The All Wales Mental Health Promotion Network’s fifth annual conference took place on Wednesday 25th January 2012 at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff.

The conference focused on the importance of early years development on mental health and wellbeing. The Geese Theatre Company performed at the conference. Geese Theatre Company is a team of actors and group workers who present interactive drama and conduct workshops related to a chosen theme. Their performances are designed to challenge, to provoke discussion and debate and to raise awareness with regard to specific issues.
The delegates also enjoyed presentations by Robin Balbernie (Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist), Huw Maguire (the Head of Families First), Huw Lewis AM (Ministerfor Housing, Regeneration and Heritage) and Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB who presented on The Bevan Commission.

Parallel Sessions took place during the morning and consisted of:

Families First: Alison Prowle Blaenau Gwent CBC – Families First
Integrated Family Support Services: Making a difference to families in need – Presentation
Flying Start: Flying Start – Presentation
Cordis Bright Ltd: Lessons from using risk based approaches to early identification and engagement of families at risk.
Conference documents

The conference Flyer
The conference booklet
The conference report
Presentations

Robin Balbernie’s Presentation

Supporting documents:
Children’s Emotional Development Is Built into the Architecture of their Brains
Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain
The Timing and Quality of Early Experiences Combine to Shape Brain Architecture

The Bevan Commission