EUROPEAN PATIENT CONGRESS DEPRESSION
When? The first edition took place on 7 December 2024
Where? It was a virtual event, with participants joining from the comfort of their homes.
A loud voice for people with depressive illnesses
The first European Patient Congress Depression was more than just a conference; it was a 360-degree exploration of depression. The event offered a balanced approach, weaving expert insights, personal experiences, and interactive Q&A sessions – ensuring that the voices of patients and their loved ones were as prominent as those of the experts. The key focus was on people with depression: their stories, their questions, and their need for connection and understanding. The result was a supportive, engaging atmosphere that fostered learning, connection, and a deeper understanding of depression.
Photo gallery
Thank you for joining us!
This Congress brought together people affected by depression, their friends and relatives, and mental health experts to explore the topic from different perspectives. Together, we created a safe space to interact and gain knowledge about depression. We are proud to share that the Congress delivered:
- Nearly 5 hours of informative content about depression
- 9 diverse sessions including evidence-based insights, personal stories, interactive Q&As, practical tips and relaxation sessions to support well-being
- Led by 10 experts, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience from 6 countries
- 84 questions and messages answered during the Q&A sessions
- Over 250 participants
- Registrants from 70 countries
- Amazing feedback from our fantastic attendees
Thank you to all who participated and contributed to this meaningful event!
Agenda
Our speakers
Hegerl
Prof. Ulrich Hegerl is a leading expert on depression and suicide prevention. He was the Director of the Psychiatry Clinic in Leipzig until 2019 and held the Senckenberg Distinguished Professorship at Goethe University Frankfurt from 2019 to 2024. He has over 30 years’ experience in mental health research and has published over 700 scientific papers.
Barbui
Corrado Barbui is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Verona, Italy, where he coordinates the activities of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health and Service Evaluation. He conducts clinical trials and implementation research on pharmacological and psychosocial interventions.
Valente
Tiago Valente is an endurance triathlete, mental health advocate, and entrepreneur. Founder of the NOSHAME Movement, he combines his professional background in product management with his passion for sports and men’s mental health advocacy, promoting open dialogue and fighting the stigma around depression among men and men’s mental health globally.
Heering
Henriëtte Dorothée Heering is a scientist-practitioner, currently working as a therapist for people experiencing a persistent depression. As a scientist she is embedded within the Dutch national organisation for suicide prevention. Dedicated to better mental health care, she aims to learn more on the perspectives of client and caregiver.
M.F.A.
Rafał Kłopotowski is a Peer and Family Support Specialist currently working at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw, Poland. At LifeRing Secular Recovery, he is a convenor of sobriety meetings for people with a dual diagnosis of drug and alcohol dependency, and mental health disorders.
Sandra
Sandra and Jan Albers both have extensive experience working in management positions for international companies and have lived in the UK and Germany. Sandra has been diagnosed with depression and has developed a bag of tools and routines to help her lead a happy and healthy life with Jan supporting her in many essential ways.
Ainsle
Australian born and based in Germany, Ainslie has over 20 years’ experience in government, not-for-profit and international settings. She is a skilled leader and consultant that collaborates with organisations to improve the lives of others. Ainslie is a strong advocate for mental health.
Dr Theodoros Koutsomitros
Dr Theodoros Koutsomitros is a Consultant Psychiatrist-Psychotherapist with specialist qualifications from the UK (UCL), Greece (ΑΠΘ), the Netherlands (Maastricht) and the USA (Harvard). He is the Secretary of the Psychotherapy section of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) and the Founder and Director of the Greek rTMS clinic at the Medical Psychotherapeutic Centre, the largest mental health center in Greece.
Thank you for helping to spread the word:
- European Psychiatric Association
- Nawal Mustafa (@thebraincoach)
- Mental Health Initiative (@mental.health.initiative)
- Mental Health Matters (@derpression.vent)
- Psyche erklaert! (@erklaerungsnot)
- Eva Habermann (@eva_habermann)
- Dr Liz | Breast Cancer and Women’s Health (@oriordanliz)
- Aleigha Blaker (@derpression.vent)
- Celine, Psychologist, M.Sc. (@psychologiemitceline)
- Leading Medicine Guide
FAQ
The European Patient Congress Depression is a free online event designed to support and inform those affected by depression.
The congress focuses on supporting individuals on their journey to mental wellness, offering practical guidance, expert advice, and fostering an empathetic community. Attendees will have a safe space in which to ask questions. They will gain valuable insights into managing depression and confronting stigma.
It’s for people suffering from depression who want to learn more about their condition and its treatment and receive practical advice from both experts and those who have personally experienced depression. It’s also for relatives seeking guidance to support their loved ones and enhance their own well-being. Additionally, it’s open to anyone interested in understanding depression better and finding ways forward.
Recordings of each Congress session are available on our website.
The slides are accessible for all registered attendees via a link and password sent to their registered email address.
To ensure you have easy access to all the resources and links shared during the event, we recommend checking our website and the links we sent you in separate emails after the event. If you have any trouble locating something specific, feel free to reach out to us at contact@epc-depression.com.
The event feedback survey is closed, but your feedback is still valuable! Feel free to contact us at contact@epc-depression.com to share your thoughts.
Stay informed about our future events and projects by:
- Visiting our website and the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) website to check the News and Our Projects sections for information about new events.
- Signing up for the EAAD newsletter to get direct updates.
