Synopsis of Horatio Congress 2018 at Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Babu Lal Yadav RGN, RPN, B Sc N, M Sc N (Psychiatric Nursing), M Sc N by Research The National Forensic Mental Health Services, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin 14,
Introduction
It was a great opportunity and experience for me as a Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) sponsored delegate in Horatio congress which held from 10th to 12th May 2018 at Nordic House, Torshavn, Faroe Islands organised by the Horatio: European Association for Psychiatric Nurses in conjunction with Faroe Psychiatric Nurses Society. The congress was part of Horatio annual routine. It was attended by a number of other local, national and international delegates and experts in the field of mental health and psychiatric-mental health nursing.
I knew it was going to be an amazing experience but it went above and beyond my expectations, and I most certainly admired the whole theme of this year congress, “safe settings” that was a huge success. The keynote speeches, symposium and workshop such as ‘Psychological safety’ and ‘Safewards model’ were knowledgeable and gave a new insight to me. There was a very constructive debate on a number of emerging issues relevant to psychiatric-mental health nursing in Europe. The importance of ‘a safe settings’ has been emphasized by a number of eminent presenter in various ways. I feel it needs to be emphasised in Irish Forensic mental health service as well. In my opinion, emerging role of forensic psychiatric nurses must be considered as a theme in the future Horatio Congress.
I think many keynote speeches and scientific plenary sessions by national and international delegates were knowledge based and useful to guide my practice. Most of all, the concurrent oral presentations and interactive poster presentations were exceptionally good. Moreover, it was a great opportunity for me to networking with a number of congress delegates. I enjoyed the inter-disciplinarity and sodality among all.
It was a great entertainment for me to watch the music and band performance by local mental health service users and concert by the well known Faroese Singers in both the opening and ending ceremonies.
I enjoyed the relax atmosphere of the venue, the Nordic House and the excursion of Torshavn harbor and the PNA night dinner. I was really taken aback by the beauty of the location, especially as viewed from Nordic House. I never knew before how beautiful Faroe Islands is? I hope everyone had good time at the congress.
Action to be taken
1. I will always think of ‘Psychological safety’ at my workplace particularly in my managerial role and usefulness of ‘the Safe settings’ in my role as psychiatric nurse based on reflective knowledge and insight gained from attending this congress.
2. I will share my positive experience with my colleagues and also motivate them to participate in such a superb professional conference.
3. I will try to do further research in area i.e. role of psychiatric nurse in creating safe setting at the national forensic mental health services.
Acknowledgement
I'd like to add my thanks to PNA of Ireland for providing me bursary for attending this superb - Horatio Congress and I feel hugely in debt.
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Synopsis of Horatio Congress 2018 at Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Neil Crowhurst Waterford Mental Health Services
Background
I was very fortunate to be able to attend the above conference as a Horatio Bursary winner. I submitted a poster presentation on the conference theme of ‘Safe Settings’ and was able to fully participate in the conference proceedings at both presenter and delegate levels.
Research
I currently work in clinical, research and teaching roles. My postgraduate research project aims to examine contributory factors relating to serious incidents in mental health services. As such my poster presentation was a review of the antecedents associated with violence/aggression and suicide within inpatient mental health areas. Many of the presentations I attended also dealt with this type of research area – another reason why I found the conference so invaluable.
Experience
From a professional perspective, being able to attend the conference was extremely productive. Not only was I able to develop my poster presentation skills (something I had not attempted before) but I was able to add the presentation to my list of publications and to my CV. The feedback I received during the conference was very helpful in terms of developing my research/presentation skills. Similarly, I was proud to be able to represent both the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland and Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) who are jointly overseeing my research project. The links and contacts I made with various delegate group members, from all across the world, would not have occurred without the opportunity afforded by the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland (PNA).
From a personal viewpoint, I really enjoyed the conference, particularly the range and scope of presentations and the level of interest and commitment amongst delegates. The setting was perfect and the hosts of both the conference and my accommodation were extremely accommodating and friendly. I would really liked to have stayed in the Faroe Islands for a longer period – I only really got to see the capital Torshavn, which in itself was a lovely city, but I would certainly venture further beyond if the opportunity arose again. It is very unlikely that I would have made it to such a stunning place at any time in my life had I not been given the chance and resources to present.
I would recommend the opportunities offered by Horatio and the PNA to all nursing and healthcare colleagues. Indeed I have already brought the 2019 conference in Copenhagen to the attention of friends and colleagues in Waterford.
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Synopsis of Horatio Congress 2018 at Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Gerry Maguire Cavan / Monaghan Mental Health Services
Well, the landing in the Faroe Islands was ‘interesting’!! Atlantic Airlines, owned by the Faroese Government, provide an exceptional service between Copenhagen and Faroe, as well as from Edinburgh. As was the journey to Torshavn, the Capital ‘city’ of about 10,000 people!! The landscape, while breath-taking, seemed quite inhospitable with huge mountains and deep ravines…and water everywhere…including overhead! Dwellings in the countryside were sparse and it was about 45mins drive to Torshavn. Every so often, we would come along a small village nestled between the mountains and invariably close to the sea. Idyllic in good weather! The roads network was top class with bridges and tunnels connecting some of the various islands. The Faroe’s highest temperature in the Summer months ranges between 10-13 degrees! However, their winters are relatively mild (3-4 degrees min), though they do get a sprinkling of snow now and then.
Torshavn, the Capital, is beautiful. There were limited hotels and many of us stayed in B&B’s that were functional. It is a bit more expensive then Ireland, but not as bad as we had feared. There is a good bus service around the town and some folks stayed an extra few days to take advantage of available sight-seeing trips around one or more of the islands that make up the Faroes.
The Conference itself was very well organised and every possible detail was attended to. The venue ‘The Nordic Centre’ was first class; a fabulous new build convention centre, covered in grass, not unlike many of the traditional buildings in the Old Town. The food was class…and plenty of it! There was a great international flavour to the conference and we had the opportunity to learn about the differences as well as similarities in service delivery in mental health care across Europe, primarily, though there were a few presenters from as far away as Australia and Canada. There were smooth transitions between the Key note and plenary sessions and the various rooms were comfortable and the attendees interested, engaged and interactive – I believe it’s this last piece where much of that deeper learning takes place, where we tend to compare and contrast, thinking of how, and which bits, we can take from the session to our own areas of practice.
I’ve been to Horatio a few times now but this is the first time I was facilitated by the PNA. Many thanks to Peter and the PNA Executive for making this wonderful trip possible, and for their continued support for the annual bursary scheme. Sincere thanks also to the Local as well as International Organising Committee for the Conference, that includes our very own Aisling Culhane!
It’s not so easy, nor cheap, to get to the Faroes! I guess it’s one of those places one wouldn’t think to visit….unless you had a reason! But it’s well worth a visit. And of course, Horatio is always a well organised, high calibre international Conference. Go for it!!
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Synopsis of Horatio Congress 2018 at Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Ciara Healy The National Forensic Mental Health Services, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin 14,
May of this year I was lucky enough to be selected for the Horatio congress which was held in the Faroe Islands, alongside five other of my nursing colleagues. As this was my first year attending, I was unsure of what was ahead of me in the coming days however I was egger as well as excited for the conference. I was also really looking forward t exploring a new part of the world for me. From the moment we landed I felt a great welcome from the other PNA delegates as well as the hosts of this year’s conference. We had the pleasure of being entertained by local musicians, dancers and poets throughout.
The conference was held over a couple of days which gave you a chance to attend several presentations from different nursing professionals from around the world. Two presentations which stood out for me were, one from a nurse that attended from Australia who spoke about palliative care for patients in the mental health settings and another from a fellow PNA member Tracey, who gave an engaging presentation about giving responsibility to the patient for their physical health in a community setting as well as introducing apps to help communication between all MDT members and the patient. I loved hearing presentations, having discussions and bouncing ideas off different nurses from other countries to develop and broaden my nursing ideas.
Overall, I had an amazing experience at this year’s conference and I would highly recommend nursing professionals of all grades to attend as well as present in future years. Once I returned to Ireland, I was already planning to attend next years conference and maybe even presenting! I am extremely grateful to the PNA for giving me the chance to attend and will have fond memories of our trip together.
