Fórsa’s Health and Welfare Divisional Executive has opted to theme next week’s health conference around the issue of workplace mental health and the provision of mental health services to the public.

Along with the usual conference deliberations on a wide range of industrial relations and service issues, delegates will hear keynote speeches from representatives of mental health promoters See Change and Mental Health Ireland.

Fórsa will also unveil the results of a large survey of its members in the health and welfare sector, to reveal their experience of workplace mental health issues, and their views on how the union should go about tackling them.

The final day of the event will include a panel session on the issue, with internal and external speakers.

The Sligo conference will debate over 150 motions covering national health policy, staffing and structures, pay, voluntary sector funding, pensions, health and safety and other issues. It will also hear from Fórsa Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan.

The biennial conference sets policy and priorities for the union’s health division over the next two years, and elects the Divisional Executive that will oversee their implementation.

Some 200 delegates from Fórsa health branches around the country will attend.