Led by Professor Richard Holt, the purpose of the course is to consider important Cardiovascular Risk factors and how these can be managed effectively in Mental Health settings. Obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia will all be addressed.

Partnership virtual North East TA Conference

Led by Dr Carol Stott from Beginning with A Autism Consultancy and Training, this comprehensive course provides in-depth coverage of ADOS-2.

The purpose of the talk is to raise the awareness of perinatal mental health and the support available, share innovative ways in tackling health inequalities by engaging, improving access and providing a culturally responsive service and to give an understanding of the importance in providing support for partners during this crucial time. Sharing lived experience and the impact having a perinatal illness can have not only on the individual but the whole family and looking at it through a cultural lens.

Significant number of people with brain injury presents to mainstream mental health services including emergency setting, community care, inpatient and forensic setting. Their presentations can be at times challenging to manage, difficult to understand, and appropriate assessment and interventions may not be easily accessible. Better understanding and awareness among clinicians can help to improve the management of these patients and help access appropriate interventions.

Presented by the Andrew Sims Centre’s established Mental Health Law multi-professional training team.

Autism affects approximately 1% of people in the UK. Amongst patients accessing mental health services this prevalence rises to about 4%. Autism is associated with a wide range of physical health, mental health, and social care issues, so it is essential that all health and social care practitioners have a good working knowledge of autism. This course will provide you with a refresher about autism basics, a timely update on the latest developments in autism, and hints and tips for working with autistic service users.

Sexual offending and sexually inappropriate behaviour is multifarious. The definition of some offences are culture bound, culture has shifted dramatically in the last few years in relation to what behaviour will be tolerated, meanwhile evidenced based treatments for sexual offending are relatively lacking and generally not considered core business in mental health services. Sexual offenders come from every class, race and ethnic group of society. All of these issues can render the management of mentally disordered sexual offenders highly uncertain and anxiety provoking.

Recent research shows that death by suicide is nine times more common in autistic people compared to the general population. Self-harm is more common as well, which is one of the reasons that autism is sometimes misdiagnosed as borderline personality disorder. It is essential that clinicians working in mental health settings are aware of the increased risk of self/suicide in autistic patients, and be able to effectively manage risk.