From left to Right: Al Hayashi, Pam H. Aloni, Darlene Hammell, Rachelle Bouffard, Don Milliken, Marilyn Bater, Sharon Stanis, Ann Elliott-Goldschmid, Joanna Hood

6th Annual Lafayette Health Awareness Series

Thursday September 22, 7:00 to 9:30 pm
David Lam Auditorium, MacLaurin Building, UVIC
Free to the public

The topics of past forums have been those which are at the forefront of the minds of our community, for example, the HPV Vaccine when this new immunization was introduced into the public school programs and “Going for Gold” – reaching one’s optimum health was presented in the year the Olympics were hosted in BC. Until recently the subject of mental health has rarely been publically discussed, but happily this is changing as we realize that many are affected with concerns for either themselves or for loved ones. The distinction of what are the expected ups and downs of our human experience and what is something more serious and needing treatment can be blurred. There is a lot of grey area. This year’s forum will address exactly this “grey area” with top notch physicians who each deal with a particular age group. The evening will allow us to learn the main concerns which are common in various stages of our lives and how we might better discern what would be considered a health issue and what is absolutely expected as part of our life experience. As the entire spectrum of life will be covered by our various panelists, this forum will speak to absolutely everyone and can aptly be subtitled: Everything you wanted to know about mental health, but were afraid to ask. Join the Lafayette String Quartet and these experts for what will be an informative, helpful and encouraging evening.

As has become the tradition, the quartet will begin the evening with a short musical presentation followed by presentations of the panelists and ending with a general question and answer period.

Panelists:

• Rachelle Bouffard, MSc, MD, FRCPC Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Clinical Leader in the Outpatient Services Child Youth and Family Mental Health VIHA, Clinical Assistant Professor UBC Medicine.
• Don Milliken, MB, MSHA, FRCPC, FCPA Consultant Psychiatrist, Mood Disorders Service, VIHA; Past-President, Canadian Psychiatric Association; Chair, Specialist Forum, Canadian Medical Association.
• Marilyn Bater, MD FRCPC MB– Geriatrician, Medical Director, Seniors Health, VIHA; Chief, Geriatric Medicine, VIHA
• Darlene Hammell, MD CCFP Assistant Dean Student Affairs, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Closing Commentary
• Allen Hayashi, MD FRCS(C), General and Pediatric Surgeon, Head Division of General Surgery, VIHA South Island Clinical Education Leader Dept of Surgery, Island Medical Program, panel facilitator