RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Caravan of Life, USA, in collaboration with the Caravan of Life Pakistan Trust, organized its first annual Psychiatric Rehabilitation Conference titled “Recovery - The Bridge Between Illness and Wellness,” here on Sunday.

More than 400 participants attended the conference where the speakers included several reputable names in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation from the USA. Dr. Anthony Zipple, Sc.D., MBA, discussed how improvements in treatment of serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, made it possible for such patients to have full lives, jobs and independence. He emphasized on the need to treat people with mental health problems with respect and compassion, and valuing the individuals’ own needs and dreams. Often, such patients’ families are blamed for the illness and ignored during the treatment process. However, including families as partners in the patients’ recovery process is an important component of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Dr. Catherina Batscha, DNP, PMHNP, BC, and Dr. Saima Hirani, Ph.D, highlighted the fact that people with severe and persistent mental illness have shortened lives because of undiagnosed and untreated medical illness. According to Dr. Batscha, approximately 70% of the seriously mentally ill individuals have comorbid physical illnesses, which can shorten their lifespan by 25 years; these illnesses include obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiac problems. Therefore, it is very important to integrate medical care with psychiatric treatment.

Dr. Catherina Batscha and Dr. Zainab F. Zadeh, Ph.D., in another session, stressed the importance of evidence-based practices like CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and peer-support in the recovery process.

Scott Graham, MBA, MA, said it was exciting to avail an opportunity to come to Pakistan and share knowledge he has along with his colleagues. Graham and Dr. Uzma Ambareen, MBBS, BC, discussed the challenges faced in psychiatric rehabilitation, in the USA and in Pakistan, including workforce development, affordability, and issues like stigma, which can adversely affect access to mental health care.

The plenary session summarized the core elements of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery: community integration, integrating physical health care and mental health care, peer support and client choice and control. The session ended with concluding remarks from the trustees, Khusro Elley and Shaheen Ahmed.