Event description

Mindgardens Neuroscience Network presents the third edition of the Mindgardens Masterclass series, Managing Cardiometabolic Health in Mental Health Consumers. This series is comprised of advanced, highly-interactive sessions designed for clinicians wanting to deepen their practice through applied learning, scenario-based activities, and guided skill development.

Masterclass Structure & Content

This Masterclass is designed to equip mental health clinicians with practical knowledge and tools to identify, monitor, and intervene early in cardiometabolic risks in consumers who experience psychosis. The session will include presentations, followed by interactive workshops, roleplays, and discussions of pre-reading and resources provided prior to the event.

The Masterclass will focus on the following topics:

• Cardiometabolic risk factors
• Screening for metabolic health
• Implementing lifestyle interventions
• Pharmacological considerations
• Discussing physical health with consumers

Facilitators

Dr Andrew Watkins is the Director of Programs and Innovation for Mindgardens Neuroscience Network. He has over 20 years of mental health clinical experience in public mental health services, including as a nurse practitioner specialising in severe mental illness, particularly early psychosis. Andrew co-developed and led the Keeping the Body in Mind program, designed to improve metabolic health outcomes for people taking psychotropic medication with lifestyle interventions and health coaching. He has developed several other programs including a youth mental health intervention and online health coaching program.

Law Edwards holds over 9 years of experience as a clinical exercise physiologist working with vulnerable population groups including mental health, aboriginal health, those in touch with the Justice system and individuals experiencing homelessness. Notably, Law was the first Exercise Physiologist to be employed in the Forensic Hospital, providing services to those experiencing serious mental illness and in contact with the criminal justice system. Prior to working in Justice Health NSW, Law worked within the Mindgardens Keeping the Body in Mind clinical team in adult community mental health, as well as project lead in the implementation of the Peer outreach Wellness Coach Healthcare (PoWCH) navigator project.