The ProMenPol project completed its first annual conference in Berlin on the 11th and 12th of October 2007. There were 56 participants, from a number of countries who came from a variety of professional backgrounds.
The aims of the conference were to:
Introduce participants to the project and its aims;
Provide an overview of developments in mental health policy in recent years;
Outline the situation of mental health promotion in the three settings of interest;
Obtain feedback from participants on the ProMenPol framework, the proposed field trials and the database that are being developed as part of the project; and
To encourage the participation and support of participants for future project activities
31 participants returned the conference evaluation sheets. An extremely high satisfaction rate of 80% (average) with the proceedings was indicated by participants. The project Advisory Committee also provided very positive and informative feedback.
Conclusions and recommendations included:
More information to be sent out in advance of the conference, particularly in regard to workshop questions;
Shorter first day;
More time for workshops;
Ensure difficult issues are given more preparation time to limit confusion e.g. pilot testing;
Materials for policy workshop to be sent to policy makers in advance; and
Explore avenues for funding for translation of tools/listing of non English tools in additional languages.