Thursday, August 7, 2008

Infant Mental Health Conference

The WAIMH Congress in Yokohama was very successful, with over 2000 registrants The biggest ever. It was amazing for its running to time(this is Japan after all) and the simultaneous translations in 8 rooms at a time when the Workshops etc were running. Some great Plenaries as well as self aggrandizement by a few. Only made a couple of poor choices, but enjoyed all the others especially some on Infant/Parent Psychotherapy, some new info as well as reinforcement of what I am doing.
As we were gathering in the afternoon of Friday for the first congress, we were interested to see many young girls in Summer Yukata heading our way. As part of the Yokohama 300 anniversary there was to be a Hanabi (fireworks show) and this is a good opportunity for young people to dress up. By the end of the opening Conference events, their were thousands of people sitting along the harbour esplanades to see the fireworks, that started promptly at 7.30.(no daylight saving in japan)
It was a sight to see young men in "punk' bleached hairdos, earrings, also in Yukata, holding hands with a young thing tripping along on her geta (sandals) with their goods wrapped in a furoshiki (carrying cloth)
It was great to catch up with my RCH co-workers especially Kerry and Libby. We did dinner each evening searching out the Japanese cuisine.Here they are in a Ramen shop.
A surprise of the Congress was that Campbell Paul and Brigid Jordan (my peers) were awarded the WAIMH Award jointly, for their work in raising awareness of IMH in Australia as well as their establishment of educational courses. Well deserved.
Lets hope the award is acknowledged at the Hospital on their return.

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