March 12, 2021
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. PST, on Zoom
The first annual B.C. Concurrent Disorders Conference, hosted by PHSA’s BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, was a one-day free virtual event dedicated to advancing knowledge and building capacity among mental health and substance use professionals who treat people with complex concurrent disorders.
“Concurrent disorder” describes a condition in which a person has both a mental illness and a substance use problem. People with complex concurrent disorders are vulnerable and extremely ill. Many experience high degrees of distress, impaired cognitive functioning, and homelessness, and have histories of trauma, self-harm, and overdose events.
Their needs often go beyond what acute care hospitals can provide, meaning people with concurrent disorders frequently have histories of difficulties with the health care system. They need specialized, evidence-based, integrated treatment.
The event included a full program of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and 14 breakout sessions and workshops covering a variety of subjects such as the following:
The conference featured a diverse group of national and international speakers and presenters with a common focus on collaborating to improve care for people who live with complex concurrent disorders:
- Dr. Vijay Seethapathy, Chief Medical Officer, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Jane Sun, Director, Interprofessional Practice, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Terri-Lee Seeley, Director, Interprofessional Practice, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Karen Beresford, Mental Health and Substance Use Coordinator, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Tara McCaffery, Mental Health and Addictions Supervisor, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Dr. Christian Schutz, Scientist, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Dr. Tonia Nicholls, Distinguished Scientist, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Lynn Pelletier, Vice-President, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Kathryn Embacher, Senior Director, Patient Care Services, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Justine Dodds, Senior Director, Interprofessional Practice, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Kim Korf-Uzan, Director, eHealth and Special Projects, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Dr. Rakesh Lamba, Medical Director, Forensic Regional Clinics and Correctional Psychiatry, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Stephanie Svensson, Clinical Security Liaison Nurse, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital
- Peter Parnell, Director, Access, Transition and Clinical Risk, Forensic Psychiatric Hospital
- Kathryn Proudfoot, Director, Patient and Family Experience
- Deborah Ross, Director, Strategic Initiatives
- Dr. Connie Coniglio, Chief Operating Officer, Complex Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Dr. Nick Mathew, Medical Director, Complex Mental Health and Substance Use Services
- Melanie Hall, Clinical Services Manager, Heartwood Centre for Women
- Kevin Kirkland, Music Therapist, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
- Shannon Nesbitt, Music Therapist, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
- Tiffany Stahle, Recreation Therapist, Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
- Kathy Steegstra, Senior Provincial Executive Director, Virtual Health, Trauma Services BC and Mobile Medical Unit, Provincial Health Services Authority
- Gerrit Van Der Leer, Director, Mental Health and Substance Use Services, B.C. Ministry of Health
- Amanda Butler, Researcher, University of British Columbia
- Dr. Daniel Vigo, Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia
- Dr. Emlene Murphy, Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia
- Vikram Palanisamy, Clinical Instructor, University of British Columbia
- Ashok Krishnamurthy, Clinical Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
- Carol Ward, Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia
- Gordon William MacEwan, Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia
- Sanjeev Sockalingam, Professor, University of Toronto, Vice President, Education at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Shabbir Amanullah, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
- Michael Farrell, Professor/Director, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales
- Dr. Brian Rush, Scientist Emeritus, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
