Welcome to the 22nd WCP Congress Program Scheduling

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The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated already significant mental health concerns among the college and university student population. Counteracting the rising need will require a focus on prevention, fighting stigma, building resilience and promoting student's well-being at every level of the institution: from curricular and co-curricular activities to professional development of faculty and staff and cultivating a supportive environment. Some strategies for multi-prong intervention will be discussed, including using art for effective outreach and programming.

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Brain research allows us to identify the four essential cornerstones of living a good life which in essence means keeping our brains healthy. The World Health Organisation constitution states: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." As a consequence, psychiatry must aim at eanabling living a fulfilled life. Psychiatric knowledge about the essentials of mental welbeing in several areas contradict trends in contemporary societies. The biological and psychological necessities of mental welbeing are based on four essential roots which will be presented in detail: Social Relationships/Bonding, Motility/Active Conduct, Sense of Coherence, Healthy Stress Management.

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Many children and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder are described as having uneven cognitive abilities, often with strengths in pattern recognition and/or splinter skills in art and computer graphics. This presentation will review the literature on the range of art skills seen in neurodiverse persons and how these strengths can be harnessed towards enhancing self-esteem, relationships and mental health resilience through art practices such as art therapy.