Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs to join the alcohol and other drugs sector at the Australian Winter School 2019 Conference
Everymind Suicide Prevention Project Officer Clare Jones will be attending the Australian Winter School 2019 Conference in Brisbane this week, representing the Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs project.
The conference is presented by the Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (QNADA) in partnership with Lives Lived Well and is an opportunity for the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector to connect, learn and share their knowledge.
With the theme of ‘Drugs: Pleasure, Medicine or Poison?’ the conference will include keynotes, presentations and workshops to explore best practice and components of effective treatment, programs and services. It will also explore emerging issues, developments and innovation in the sector. The conference will be an opportunity to hear from experts and people with lived experience and to discuss the communication of key messages and work in this space.
Jenny Valentish, who will also be presenting as a key note at the conference, on gender and substance use, has tried to address the harms of stigma of AOD use in her book of Woman of Substances: A Journey into Addiction and Treatment and through her work with AOD Media Watch.
Winter School is invaluable for the AOD field – and its trickle-down effect to the public and media – through the sharing of stories, hard-earned wisdom and evidence-based research. One of the biggest threats to mental health is stigma, which perpetuates shame and acts as a barrier to treatment. Having open and empathetic conversations about drug use is invaluable and necessary,” said Ms Valentish.
Clare Jones who has worked on the development and dissemination of Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs is excited to stay up-to-date with the important conversations and work happening in the AOD sector.
“It’s important that accurate information is being shared about alcohol and other drug use in Australia. This is a great opportunity to shine a light on the great prevention and treatment services, methods and tools available in Australia and have meaningful discussions to reduce stigma and normalise conversations about AOD use and issues,” said Ms Jones.
“We hope that Mindframe for Alcohol and Other Drugs will encourage the media and the AOD sector to connect, to build on the quality of media reporting to include helpful stories that accurately represents people who use AOD and the services available, to decrease stigma and encourage people to feel comfortable seeking help.”
Winter School Event details:
Date: 25-26 July 2019
Conference website: www.winterschool.org.au
For more information on the Mindframe For Alcohol and Other Drugs project visit: