Qatar University (QU) and the Behavioral Healthcare Center launched the two-day 2nd International Congress on Behavioral Health (IICBH) yesterday in the QU Research Complex. The congress aims to provide a multi-disciplinary platform for scholars, researchers, instructors and practitioners to present and discuss the latest findings, developments, dilemmas and solutions related to behavioral health.
Behavioral health describes the interplay between behavior mood and biology and the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of an individual.
The IICBH’s main objective is to increase awareness and understanding of behavioral health by bringing together the most recent and progressive knowledge and expertise. By doing so, the congress strives to improve behavioral health within society by promoting multi-levelled approaches and evidence-based practice and assessments.
The congress tackles two main themes; the first, ‘Contemporary Issues in Behavioral Health,’ which tackles topics such as mental representations and attitude toward mental illness and psychological services in Qatari society. The second theme, ‘Problems of Field Practice in Behavioral Health’ covers issues such as social representations and stigma and protection and safety mechanisms.
QU Vice President for Research & Graduate Studies Professor Mariam Al-Maadeed spoke at the event saying that various educational institutions were invited to the congress to address challenges stemming from behavioral health. She noted that solutions must come through effective activities that involve everyone from family to schools and universities, as well as other concerned public and private institutions.
QU has been doing its part to address behavioral health issues by adopting a number of appropriate programs in the fields of psychology, sociology, health and medicine, and has organized various conferences and activities on the topic. The university has also signed agreements and MoU’s including with the Behavioral Healthcare Center, which has played a leading role in solving these particular challenges.
Chair of the congress, Prof. Kaltham Al-Ghanim spoke at the event stressing the importance of this conference in enabling access to health, treatment and awareness services as a key element for the overall wellbeing of the human being and not just as a treatment to disease. The discourse that health is the absence of the disease is no longer acceptable, she says, in light of the advancements in knowledge related to health and human beings physical and psychological requirements.
Co-chair of the congress and Director of the Behavioral Healthcare Center Mr. Rashid Al- Nuaimi said the center’s participation in this conference is due to the concern to contribute in protecting the future generation, achieving sustainable human development and the centers belief in a society free from behavioral disorders, where its members are confident and display positive behaviors. This is achieved, he says, by discussing the latest results, developments, challenges and solutions related to behavioral health and transitioning from the theoretical phase of finding intellectual solutions to actual application.