5 Continents - Lyon 2011

Conference of the Five Continents - 19-22 October 2011 Lyon, France

Psychosocial effects of globalization on Mental Health: Toward an ecology of social links

Each era is subject to powerful processes which influence the way people live in society. Our era is marked by the psychosocial effects of the neoliberal globalization present in the five continents. It produces a continued state of precariousness (social insecurity) which is characterized by an uncertainty in social links, at first noticed in the poorest and the most sick, but also present in the very heart of our societies. This uncertainty weakens the principles of life as well as social support structures and produces a triple loss of confidence: in oneself, in others, in the future.

If we can share our knowledge and experiences, our challenge is to contribute to bringing forth the binding effect of the process of globalization, as an antidote to its destructive strength where man has only three options: disillusioned hedonism, isolation or war.

This concerns not only the future of the planet but also the future of those who inhabit it

The three main goals of the congress

- Presenting and describing psychosocial disorders in the way they manifest in the diversity of cultures and countries worldwide. We must see what is there in order to know how to respond. The aim is not to focus on the prevailing pessimism but to start from the situation reality.

- From this diversity, sharing the findings out and focusing on the supports provided by the wide range of health, social, political and development actors. Their actions show positive factors for mental health ; people experiencing great psychosocial difficulties belong to this group. The aim is to develop these potential actions.

- Proposing the « Déclaration of Lyon », based on the principle of human rights which should be extended to social links with its obviously inherent consequences

Public concerned by the conference

Decision-makers of the mental health field (state or elected representatives, in charge institutional persons, international organizations), mental health practioners (health carers along with social carers, associations), researchers in human sciences, or in economy, students and associations of users.

Philosophy of the conference

2 500 participants and 170 speakers of five continents are expected from North to South. The organizers would like to set an example: not only by speaking about social link, but also by making it a reality; i.e. putting up free of charge the conference participants wishing it with local people in their own homes, favouring access to grants…

Conference language

Conference language : French
Simultaneous translation : English and Spanish

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