PUBLIC LECTURE: VIRGINIA LAFOND: WORKING WITH THE GRIEF OF MENTAL ILLNESS

VIRGINIA LAFOND: WORKING WITH THE GRIEF OF MENTAL ILLNESS: ITS UNTAPPED PROMISE

(055265) Mon 7-9pm Nov 14 Standard $27 - Concession $18

Canadian Social Worker, Mental Health Practitioner and author of the acclaimed book 'Grieving Mental Illness; A Guide for Patients and Their Caregivers', Virginia Lafond combines the wisdom of her own psychiatric illness rehabilitation experience with lessons learned from her professional work and study on grieving mental illness. This is a unique opportunity to hear an internationally acknowledged expert talk about some of the more unusual issues associated with mental illness.

Grief is an ongoing mighty challenge for persons affected by mental illness. Yet grief reactions triggered by mental illness often remain unrecognised - and therefore unacknowledged and unaddressed. Virginia will discuss why grief remains at best a side-line agenda and why working with this unnamed grief ought to be considered one of the most important tasks for people with mental illness, their family members and professional caregivers. Virginia will propose practical ways to incorporate into our lives this grief work - the work of 'coming to terms with mental illness'. And, in doing so, how we can find deeper meaning, make life easier, and honour ourselves. Virginia Lafond comes to Perth from Ottawa, Canada where she works in the Schizophrenia Program of the Royal Ottawa Hospital, Canada. She took on this position despite the fact she was still quite severely bothered with memories of her own lengthy battle with a psychiatric illness, which had occurred after the birth of her second daughter. [In association with ARAFMI Mental Health Carers & Friends Association, MIFWA Mental Illness Fellowship WA and Pathways'92 (Inc)]

5 FOR 4 OFFER Our Special 5 for 4 offer applies to this course. If you book four people on the course you get a fifth place free. Just select the 5 for 4 Offer option when enrolling. Please advise us of all names of the members of your group by fax 6488 1066 or email [email protected]

Bookings on 6488 2433 or online http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au