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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHealth Disparities Institute Focuses on Mental Health and Drug Abuse

Health Disparities Institute Focuses on Mental Health and Drug Abuse

Everyone interested in the state of mental health and substance abuse in the Caribbean is invited to the third annual Health Disparities Institute scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22, at the Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star Marriott’s Beach Resort on St. Thomas. The institute is hosted by the Caribbean Exploratory Research Center of Excellence (CERC) of the University of the Virgin Islands School of Nursing. CERC is funded by a grant from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
The theme of the institute is “State of Mental Health and Substance Abuse: An Issue of All Ethnic/Minorities and Caribbean Populations.” The institute will include panels of local and Caribbean experts involved with mental health care, concurrent sessions featuring presenters from across the country addressing mental health issues, and poster sessions. Research scholars will also present their projects. There will also be an opportunity for networking.
Dr. Gloria Callwood, director of CERC, said, “Participants will have the opportunity to actively participate in identifying solutions to better serve this vulnerable population. All health professionals, particularly mental health professionals, will benefit from the institute.”
Keynoter speakers for plenary and luncheon sessions will include Deputy Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association Dr. Annelle Primm and St. Kitts-Nevis psychiatrist and Ambassador to the United States Dr. Izben Williams. Because the care of the mentally ill is a community concern, politicians, advocates, consumers of mental health services and anyone interested in improving services to the mentally ill should plan to attend.
It is consistently estimated that in most populations, about three percent suffer from serious mental illnesses and 20 percent have milder, but diagnosable mental disorders, Dr. Callwood said. Health disparities are the differences in occurrence, severity and burden of diseases, and differences in life expectancy that exist between groups. While disparities in health and health care impact everyone, persons most affected are minority populations. UVI’s School of Nursing established CERC in 2007 to address health disparities. The center is funded by a five-year, $6.1 million grant from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, which was established by Congress in 2000.
Registration information is available on CERC’s Web site, http://cercuvi.com. Persons are encouraged to register by Sept. 30to avoid a late registration fee. Groups of five or more people from the same organization will receive a discount. UVI faculty and staff will also receive a discount. For additional information, call Lorna Sutton-Williams at 693-1172.

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