We are thrilled to announce the upcoming CFMHN National Conference, scheduled to take place from November 19th to 22nd, 2024, at the Ottawa-Gatineau Hilton Lac Leamy in Gatineau, QC, Canada. This year's conference, themed "Leading Change: The Future of Mental Health and Substance Use Nursing in Canada," promises to be an enlightening and enriching experience for all attendees.
We invite you to mark your calendars and prepare to join us for an engaging exploration of the latest advancements in practice, education, research, and policy development in the field of mental health and substance use nursing.
Abstract submissions are now open until May 13th, 2024. This is your opportunity to contribute to the discourse and showcase your innovative work. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by June 17th, 2024. We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you to this pivotal event in our community.
Before submitting your abstract, please carefully review the following information.
Conference date:
The conference will be held in-person, November 19-22, 2024, at the Ottawa-Gatineau Hilton Lac Leamy, located in Gatineau, QC, Canada just north of Ottawa.Abstract submissions: Will be accepted until May 13th, 2024 with notification by June 17th, 2024
Conference theme:
Leading Change: The Future of Mental Health and Substance Use Nursing in Canada
Conference Objectives:
The overall goal of the conference is to provide a forum for highlighting innovations in practice, education, research, and policy development in mental health and substance use nursing in Canada and globally.
Conference participants will be able to:
Examine issues unique to the provision of mental health and substance use nursing in diverse institutional and community-based settings.
Report innovations in program and policy development relevant to mental health and substance use nursing.
Participate in culturally safe mental health practices and forward reconciliation practices with
Indigenous peoples and communities.
Discuss clinical and ethical issues unique to mental health and substance use nursing.
Explore opportunities to address work-life issues unique to mental health and substance use nursing
Suggested Topic Areas:
Suggested topic areas are listed for your information only; please feel free to submit abstracts related to other topics relevant to the overall conference objectives.
Provision of mental health and substance use nursing care of patients/clients/persons receiving care (PCPRC) populations across the lifespan prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion, human rights, social determinants of health, advocacy, allyship, antiracism, anti-stigma, and social justice approaches.
The provision of medical/surgical care by mental health nurses in acute care mental health settings.
Exploration of what culturally safe mental health nursing can be to improve care for Indigenous PCPRC and communities.
Continuing Professional Workforce Development – support for professional development education and research; recruitment and retention initiatives including onboarding, mentoring, and clinical supervision; interprofessional education and practice including cultural competence, cultural safety, and cultural humility.
Self-care initiatives, mindfulness, care for the caregiver, nurse-to-nurse peer support, prevention of vicarious trauma, burnout, and PTSD
Innovative research initiatives in mental health and substance use nursing, including academic and community-based partnerships.
Physical and psychological safety for PCPRC and staff, emphasizing safe staffing levels.
Mental health and substance use standards of practice, competencies, scope of practice, and certification initiatives.
Evidence based models of care, including trauma and violence informed care, harm reduction programing (including self-injection sites and supervised consumption sites), rehabilitation and recovery programs, early intervention schemes, Suicide intervention and care planning, psychoeducation initiatives for PCSUs and families.
Virtual care initiatives – strengths and limitations, best practices, and regulatory concerns.
Patient acuity, including de-escalation techniques, debriefing following crises, and community based rapid response teams.
Housing and community-based supports
Role of seclusion and physical restraints in acute care
Novel drug treatments such as ketamine and stellate ganglion block.
MAiD – exclusion of eligibility of persons whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness until March 2027.
Types of Presentations:
Oral Paper: A short report on recent completed original work or in-progress work. Total time 30 minutes (20 minutes presentation and 10 minutes for discussion)
Poster: A short report on recent completed original work or in-progress work. Posters will be featured as a significant component of the conference.
Workshop:
The goal of a workshop presentation is to provide participants with the opportunity to focus on professional development opportunities (e.g. learn new skills, tools, and perspectives) in an interactive forum.
Please be sure to include an overview of the workshop, core issues that support why a workshop is needed, the planned interactive activities, why it would be of interest to conference participants and what would be the significant takeaways.
Total time 90 minutes
Guidelines for Submission:
Abstracts are to be written in English or French and submitted electronically through this designated portal.
When you are finished click the Submit button at the end of the form.
Content Required for Submission:
Type – oral paper, poster, workshop
Contact Person for Your Submission – name, phone number, email address.
Abstract Title
Body of Abstract – maximum 350 words
Learning Objectives – 2 or 3 objectives
Keywords – 3 or 4 keywords that would describe your submission.
Selected References – up to 5 references that underpin your abstract.
Contributing Authors – name, credentials, title/position
Materials Provided (workshop only)
Session Outline (workshop only)