Identity. Addiction. Depression. Resilience. Optimism.

 These five topics can summarise the world’s collective mental health experience of the last few years. And if you don’t fall under one of these brackets yourself, it’s certain you know someone who does.

But there are at least two good things that came out of the hardship. One, the light that’s been shone on the critical need for better mental health care. And two, the unique opportunity we have as Christians to promote a new, Christ-centred approach to mental health care.

In collaboration between the Centre for Theology and Psychology and ISCAST (Christianity and Science in Conversation), this full–day conference covered some of the most pressing mental health issues facing people today, and how we can approach them from a clinical and theological perspective.

Disclaimer

This purchase will give you full access to the conference recordings, including all six sessions and discussion panel. You'll also get the conference slides, and any associated resources. 

Please Note: Due to technical issues, the first few minutes of Andrew Sloane's talk are inaudible. However, this does not affect the main body of the talk and in no way changes the content. Thankyou for understanding.

Contents

Conference Speakers

Andrew Sloane

Dr Andrew Sloane is a lecturer in Old Testament and Christian Thought at Morling College, Sydney, where he has taught since 2002. He teaches and researches in the areas of Old Testament, philosophy of religion, theology of medicine, bioethics, and integration of faith and work. Andrew is a Fellow of ISCAST, qualified in medicine, and practiced briefly as a doctor before training as a Baptist pastor.

Michael Wong

Dr Michael Wong is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, where he studied medicine. While he is now retired, he currently holds an honorary appointment with them, and is involved in teaching and various ongoing research projects.

Alan Gijsbers

Dr Alan Gijsbers is an associate professor who retired in September 2022 from his position as a specialist physician in addiction medicine in Melbourne, Australia. In the mid-1980’s he worked as a general physician at the Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, South India, with Interserve Australia.

Peggy Kern

Dr Peggy Kern is a professor at the Centre for Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education. Originally trained in social, personality, and developmental psychology, Dr Kern received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Arizona State University, a Masters and PhD in social/personality psychology from the University of California, Riverside, and postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lidia Lae

Dr Lidia Lae is a writer, psychologist, and teacher who has worked in the corporate, community, academic and educational sectors. She is the Director of To Learn Consulting, a psychological consultancy that is passionate about assisting people to move forward in their lives.

Sunny Philip

Dr Sunny Philip is a Human Relations specialist. For his doctoral thesis, Sunny researched the topic of burnout in medical doctors. He is trained in Leadership, Conflict Management, Relationship Counselling, Grief Counselling, and Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience.