GMWS CONFERENCE PROGRAM

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear esteemed colleagues and guests,
Even before March 2020, the quest for equity in mental health care and access for people of African descent was inevitable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequities in access were revealed and made clear. While significant effort has been made to address overall mental health stress globally, the issue remains paramount for people of African descent in Canada.

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this global meeting on Mental Well-being and Substance (Mis)Use under the theme “Rest, Recover & Resilience During & Beyond Pandemics”. Today, we have gathered here on Epekwitk, now known as Prince Edward Island, the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people. We gather to address the most pressing issues that impact the mental health, wellness and well-being of people of the African diaspora in our society – often overlooked, stigmatized and discriminated against.

As we all know, mental health and substance use disorders are critical public health issues that continue to impact people's lives globally. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem, leading to an increase in mental health disorders worldwide. It has affected individuals from all walks of life, leaving behind a trail of suffering, misery and despair. This has further affected performance, productivity, and profits because of the lack of mental strength to perform to standard abilities.

As service users, policy makers and mental health professionals, it is our responsibility to work towards creating a more equitable and accessible mental health system that can serve all individuals who need it, regardless of their background. Through this conference, we aim to bring together experts in the field, researchers, policymakers, and community members to share their insights, experiences, and ideas on how to improve the mental health and substance use system.

We hope that by the end of this conference, we will have gained valuable knowledge and strategies that will help us create a better mental health and substance use system for all. This is more than just another event on mental health and substance use, but a focus on educating, equipping and empowering community leaders, serviceproviders, policy makers, health care professionals so that can be better at managing themselves and others with equity consciousness.

Thank you for your participation, and we look forward to your active engagement throughout the next three days. Please take time off to enjoy the beautiful province of Prince Edward Island. To become a strategic partner or sponsor for this and other events by the New African Canadians request a brochure through registration@globalmws.org

Henry Luyombya

Executive Director & Chief Visionary Officer
New African Canadians (NAC) Stratford, PE Canada
www.newafricancanadians.com
registration@globalmws.org
nac@globalmws.org

Event Schedules

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Time Session Speakers
9:30 am Opening Message Henry Luyombya
9:35 am The National Anthem in English & French Languages William John
9:40 am Indigenous Greetings & Land Acknowledgment Julie Pellisier-Lush
9:45am – 10:00am The Urgency of Cultural Relevant Mental Health Services:
Why Now, Why Black?. Delegates will have a clearer and stronger understanding ofthe urgency for providers, researchers and educators to provide inclusive and culturally relevant services to address mental health stressors and maintain forward momentum in the recovery journey. 		Moses Okumu
MSW, PhD, Co-Chair; Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana, IL, US
10:00am – 10:15am Leading a City of Significant Diversity. Delegates will receive warm greetings from the Mayor of Charlottetown, the Birthplace of Confederation, and one of the most culturally diverse cities in Atlantic Canada. He provide an updated on initiatives and programs to strengthen access to inclusive mental health services for people of African descent. Phillip Brown, Mayor of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
10:15 am – 10:30am Uganda: Mental Health Stressors Among Key Populations and Lessons from the Grassroots & Refugees. Delegates will be aware of the drivers of mental stress among refugees, sex trade workers and progress in Uganda in addressing the stressors and substance (mis)use among these population groups. The best practice lessons will be shared from a community mental health model through critical dialogue, reflections and story telling. 10:30am – 10:45am Hajji Yasin Bakaluba Sekimwanyi, Housing & Dr. Peter Kyambadde, MB.Ch.B, MPH Executive Director, Most at Risk Populations Initiative (MARPI), Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
10:30am – 10:45am Access to Housing: A key determinant of Mental Health Outcomes. Delegates will be inspired to become more conscious about the role of housing (stable) in improving mental health outcomes. Delegates will also understand the need to intentionally recognize and plan for the long term housing initiatives as a strategy to address mental health complications to boost long term labour market outcomes. Hajji Yasin Bakaluba Sekimwanyi, Housing & Mental Health: Lessons & Experiences from the UK & Uganda; Founder, Bakaluba Property Services Uganda Ltd.
10:45 am – 11:00am Spirituality & Well-being: The Role of Spiritual Care in Advancing Immigrant & Refugee Mental Health. Delegates willbe introduced to some of the critical aspects of the role of spirituality in advancing positive mental health outcomes in refugee and immigrant communities. The struggles and pains and the path towards wellness will be discussed. Pastor Eddie Jjumba, Psychotherapist & Lead Pastor at Dominion Church, Toronto, Ontario.
11:00am – 11:15 am The Role of Peace in Bridging the Gaps in Mental Health Service Access for Racialized & Marginalized Communities. Delegates will be introduced to the concept of peace and its significant role in promoting mental wellness among immigrant communities in Canada. They will be inspiredto take prompt and consistent action to support peace in all mental health service support. Selvi Roy, MSW, PhD, Facilitator-International Cities of Peace & Co- Chair Global Mental Wellbeing & Substance (Mis)Use Conference 2023
11:15am – 11:45am Community is Key: The Role of Community in Addressing Immigration Woes and its Implications for Mental Wellbeing. Delegates will be educated on the significant role community plays in supporting refugees with immigration challenges. She will share her personal experiences, challenges and triumphs and how systemic barriers can hinder mental health progress for refugees and immigrants Fatumah Najjuma, Youth Speaker & Facilitator, New African Canadians (NAC), a registered Canadian non-profit organization.
11:45am – 12:15pm Greetings from the Government of Uganda on Critical Conversations on Emotional Wellbeing. Delegates will be equipped with information on ongoing initiatives to address mental health challenges in Uganda, and what the Ottawa office is doing to support international students and refugees in Canada. The Hon. Joy Ruth Acheng, Ambassador of Uganda to Canada, Uganda High Commission in Ottawa, Canada
12:15am – 1:15pm Lunch Lunch Break, Networking, Updates & Promotions
1:15pm - 2.15pm Hard Talk Panel on Critical Conversation about what Businesses are yet to doto protect themselves, their staff & clients from Burn Out & Mental Health Stressors Tamara Steele, Melanie Bailey, John Kirya, Mark Lubuulwa (Moderated by Ambrose Akanyihayo)
2:15pm – 2:35 pm Spiritual Empowerment: How to Maximize our Spirituality to Increase Mental Alertness & Resilience. Participants will be educated on the spirituality and how it can be leveraged to foster effective culturally- relevant mental health counselling and trauma support. Christine Russell-Lewin
MA, Life Coach & Psychologist, CRL Coaching & Counselling Services, Jamaica
2:35pm – 3:00pm The Law & Mental Health in Uganda: What are the implications. Delegates will be introduced to multiple legal barriers people with mental health complications encounter within the law in Uganda. They will be provided strategies to navigate an increasingly challenging socially contextual legal cycle, and leverage lessons for future practice in law and mental health. Christine Tumuhairwe
Lawyer & Founder Tumuhairwe Advocates
3:00pm – 3:15pm Healthy Break
3.15pm – 3.45pm Education & Prevention Initiatives: Substance (ab)use in Youth. Delegates will be introduced to multiple strategies for engagement, educating and empowering youth experiencing substance (ab)use. They will be provided tools, tips and techniques of sustaining recovery processes. Dr. Simon Jean Okello
Founder, ST Basil Medical Clinic -Bweyogerere, Kampala, Uganda & Drug Hapana
3:45pm – 4.30pm Inspirational Message, Rapporteur Session & Summary of the Day 1 & Closing Remarks Dr. Moses Okumu & Selvi Roy
6:30pm Welcome Reception Performance (Black Cultural Society Dance Group)
final schedule coming soon
Time Session Speakers
9:35 am Welcome Message from the Co-Chairs and Overview of Day 2 Selvi Roy
9:45am – 10:00am Leading a City of Significant Diversity. Delegates will receive warm greetings from the Mayor of Stratford, the only City in Atlantic Canada to have signed on the Diversity Charter. It is also an increasingly culturally diverse cities in Atlantic Canada and update delegates on critical projects and programs to strengthen its inclusive diversity, mental health care programming and community equity. Steve Ogden, Mayor of Stratford, PE & former City Councillor, Stratford
10:00am – 10:30am Leading the Way: The First Municipality in PEI to Recognize the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. Delegates will be inspired and compelled to act towards making significant strides against all odds, personally & professionally to embrace people of African descent in all spheres of life. Debbie Johnston, Mayor of Three Rivers, PE
10:30am – 10:45am Health Break
10:45am – 11:15am Investing in Human Rights Today: Transforming Tomorrow’s Life Possibilities. Delegates will be inspired to support human rights programs for immigrants and refugees and create community programs and life possibilities. Jane Nagawa, Human Rights Defender, Canadian Human Rights International Organization & Executive Director WICAH Dufferin County Canadian Black Association
11:15am – 11:45am he Art of Mental Wellbeing: How to Improve Mental Health Utilizing Art & Performance. Delegates will learn more about the technique of Art, Music and Performance in addressing trauma and anxiety. At the end, the delegates will get a chance to meet, greet and socialize. Tamara Steele, Scott Parsons, Kxndi, Black Cultural Society: Music Performance & Social & Meet & Greet
11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch
12:45pm – 1:45pm Youth Presentations A Critical Conversation: Youth on Managing Mental Health Stressors & Substance Use Complications. Through an interactive session with the host, delegates will learn what ittakes to diagnose, manage and treat mental health disorders and substance use complications from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Roland D. Asiimwe, Alice Kaddu, Ben Wandyaka, Christine G. Nakigudde, Adult Mentors: Fred Sebyatika & Owen Monday
1:45pm – 3:45pm Country Experiences 6 International presenters will be submitting abstracts of 150 – 200 words outlining best practice lessons and experiences in managing mental health and substance use during pandemics. For 2 hours this session will be dedicated to sharing and mutual learning
3:45pm – 4:00pm A final conference rapporteur session and report back will be conducted. Awards & Recognitions will proceed. Delegates will about conference sessions, workshops and activities in a summary form. They will also learn about how the information gained over the 2 days will be utilized in recovery processes. The session will end with an awards & recognition. Janet Muganzi & Ambrose Akanyihayo: Rapporteur Session & Report Back.
final schedule coming soon
Time Session
9:30am Meeting up at Conference Venue
9:30am -10:00am Departure of Tour Buses (Mark Lubuulwa, Olivia Namuddu, Karen Karungi, Owen Byamukama, Andrew Lyatuu, Isaac Kassami, Ramlah Kyomuhendo)
10:00am – 8:00pm Departure for Tours & Travel. Potential destinations include:
1) Cavendish;
2) Anne of Green Gables;
3) Confederations Bridge;
4) Tourism Industry Association of PEI;
5) Museum;
6) St. Dunstan Bathilica, Charlottetown;
6) Red Sand Beach;
7) The Bog & Tour of Charlottetown
Tour & Enjoy PEI: Boost Your Mental Health: Delegates will become more aware of some outdoor activities to boost mental health and wellness. This will be incorporated into tour and travel activities in different sites across PEI.
final schedule coming soon
For Inquiries