The Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO), the most established organization of Black physicians in the country, will host a hybrid mental health conference, Building and Bridging Capacity – Black Youth and Mental Health, on May 4. The conference aims to provide insights for healthcare providers looking to improve their support for, and deliver culturally safe and affirming care to, Black youth patients struggling with mental health issues. As part of BPAO’s continuing professional development (CPD) series, this conference is suitable for physicians, including family doctors and psychiatrists, and allied health professionals including social workers and nurse practitioners. It is also open to medical learners.

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SESSIONS:

- Laying the groundwork - What do Black youth bring with them into care encounters?

- Lessons learned from Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean Canadian Youth (SAPACCY) research project for primary care providers - strategies for screening and service navigation

- Pathways to Care project and current challenges in system navigation for Black youth

-Panel: Challenges and suggestions for supporting youth, including youth in crisis

- Suicide risk assessment and trauma-informed de-escalation

- Medication and self-medication: Substance use disorders and psychopharmacology tips and tricks

- Treating Black youth with serious mental illness using an EDI lens

- Sex, gender, and intersectionality

- Closing keynote: Where do we go from here? Affirming and Strengths based approaches to caring for Black Youth

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For more information, visit: https://bpao.org/press-release-black-physicians-association-of-ontario-bpao-hosts-mental-health-conference/

Speaker list: https://bpao.glueup.com/event/103881/speakers.html

Registration: https://bpao.glueup.com/event/103881/home.html