The day began with symposia on pre menstrual dysphoric disorder where there was active exchange of ideas and research findings as Jing Zhou from China, Elgeta Hysaj from Iceland, Emma Brann from Sweden and Astrid Kamperman from Netherlands shared the findings from their cohorts on PMDD. The session chaired by Agata Golawska and Goel covered several aspects regarding ADHD from diagnosis to co-morbidities.
Iris Sommer in her thought provoking key note lecture on "Optimal care for women with psychosis" discussed systemically about the gender differences from anatomy to pharmacology and clinical presentation to hormonal influences that affects the course and outcome of psychosis in women. This was followed by a deeply personal account of lived experience of postpartum psychosis by Monique van den Eijnden which was poignant and also very inspiring and motivating, to continue to work and carry out research on postpartum psychosis.
There was an active participation by early career aspiring mental health professionals as well as current leaders of mental health in the workshop conducted by the President of IAWMH Prabha Chandra along with Helen Herman and Ruksheda Sayeda on rising next generation women leaders where the group discussed about the challenges in leadership faced by women and had scenarios- based discussion and sharing of ideas and experiences.
Frans de Waal - Biologist, Primatologist and a widely renowned author, introduced us to the fascinating world of primates. Through his very interesting keynote lecture titled "Female of the Species Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist", we drew lessons from the primate societies, that it's not the gender but the inequality that needs to be addressed.
