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.

The language deprivation pandemic is a hidden one that effects approximately 70% of deaf children in the UK, and been around in the early 19th Century, yet we are still learning about the lasting effects. It is considered a safeguarding concern, and everyone has responsibility to abolish this practice.

Suicide is a leading cause of death UK-wide, accounting for over 6,000 deaths and 120,000 suicide attempts annually. Suicide prevention is a government and NHS priority yet traditional approaches have had little impact and suicidal individuals and their clinicians often report feeling stressed and ill equipped for such work. Recent research on the psychological factors of suicidality may offer new directions for practitioners at every level to understand and work therapeutically with people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

More than 100 years ago Kraepelin described the psychotic disorder with poor prognosis which later gained the term schizophrenia. Advent of antipsychotics in the 20th century changed the perception of the illness to some degree. Antipsychotic medications are the mainstay of treatment in schizophrenia and their efficacy is supported by variable quality of evidence.

The half day will focus on exploring the impact of early trauma on the development of the brain, and a child's attachment patterns.

Understanding the ECG

There are myths and misunderstandings around when victims and witnesses with disabilities can and cannot give evidence in criminal proceedings; some offences do not require that the witness give evidence in court at all. Whilst not all offences against people with disabilities are disability hate crime, it is not easy to identify. The session will be covering the guidance to prosecutors .

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.

Professor Wendy Burns (Immediate Past President RCPsych & Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, Leeds) will describe the structure and function of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) and about some of the work I did and the experiences I had during my three years are President. Dr Adrian James (President, Royal College of Psychiatrists) will outline his president including parity of esteem, equality and diversity sustainability, and workforce well-being. He will reflect on his first six months as president as to his personal experience and the key elements to making the role a success.