AAMH and partners were excited to be at the 6th World Congress on Women’s Mental Health held in Tokyo this month, which was the first to be held in Asia from the growing International Association of Women’s Mental Health.  Established in 2001 to improve the mental health of women throughout the world, http://www.iawmh.org/ by creating a network of national and international societies and sections devoted to mental health of women.

The Congress was co-chair Australia’s President Elect, World Psychiatric Association, Professor Helen Herrman, and attracted a large number of internationally renowned experts in the field, including, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, general practitioners and other women’s health professionals, researchers, students, decision makers, consumers and their families, to share their knowledge and experiences about the best ways to improve women’s wellbeing.

The Congress also provided an opportunity for a symposium and meeting of delegates involved in the Asia-Pacific International Research and Education (ASPIRE) Network.  The first research collaborative initiative of the ASPIRE network is aimed at investigating the mental wellbeing and health of women – as the linchpin for improving family and child health, as well as their own.  The Maternal Child Health Project is currently being developed with an international multi-site working group approach.  Key partners at University of Rochester are continuing to work on supporting the ASPIRE network with technical expertise, and capacity building activities for emerging researchers in Southeast Asia.