El Ejido hosts, in partnership with the UAL the XXVI meeting regarding the treatment of psychosis

Together with the University of Almeria and El Ejido will host the International Meeting of the Open Dialogue Network for the Therapy of Psychosis for the first time. The XXVII edition of this congress will be available online between August 24th and 27th and will feature the participation of some of the most respected experts in the field. The town will also host the University Expert in the Foundations for the Practice of Open Dialogues in Mental Health from November 4 through June 24, 2023.

We will have the chance to attend the Open Dialogue presentations taking place in countries like India, England, Denmark and Latin America between August 24 and 27, in addition to receiving an introductory lecture given by the current Finnish team and listening to international speakers on current topics such as the controversial use of psychotropic drug with Robert Whitaker, drug free treatment at the University Hospital of Northern Norway's Non-Medication Treatment Unit or the promotion of Human Rights, services without coercion, in Italy," explained Diego Valera, vice-rector of Research

The Expert is a training program that Jaakko Seikkula founded in Finland. It also includes Silvia Parrabera (clinical psychologist at Principe de Asturias Hospital, Madrid) and Adolfo Cangas (professor at the UAL Faculty of Psychology). Valera said that the online course is in Spanish and follows the same path as the Open Dialogue Foundation in England, and the courses of Finland's mental health system. This was not available in our country until now.

Open Dialogue, a psychotherapeutic approach to treating mental health problems, was created in Finland in the 1980s. It is the current organizational structure for the entire Western Lapland mental health and social service system. It was able to treat psychosis with 90% less diagnoses in the Western World within the first 20 years.

The results of the investigations into psychosis have shown a decrease in the use and length of psychiatric admissions, as well as a reduction in psychotropic drug use. The World Health Organization (WHO), recently recognized it as one of the most valuable practices in mental healthcare due to its respect for human rights of people with mental disorders.

It will be a unique experience at the national level, as the UAL will spread an approach that isn't very common in Spain. This training and dissemination activities will be a huge help in changing mental health over the next years. Already there are many changes in mental health, both in research groups and professionals. But we must act differently. This framework of Open Dialogue is exactly in that direction, Adolfo Kangas, Professor of Psychology.

Silvia Parrabera is the director of the Unit for Early Attention in the Treatment of Psychosis in Madrid's Principe De Asturias Hospital. She said that current topics include "rethinking the Spanish consumption of drugs, which is quite high in Spain, and especially after the pandemic."

This international conference will include prominent figures such as Olga Runciman (USA), Robert Whitaker and Nick Putman. They will also give talks and facilitate workshops.