A training seminar with the participation of a delegation of specialists from Hong Kong

On the 24^th of March, with the support of the Belarusian Association of Social Workers, there was held a training seminar for medical professionals at Belarusian State Medical University. The event was organized as part of a visit to Belarus of a delegation of leading mental health and innovative rehabilitation specialists from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (People's Republic of China).

The delegation from Hong Kong included:

Doctor Lam Wai Lun – Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Clinical Psychologist, President of the Hong Kong Association of Professionals Specializing in Addiction Counselling (HKAPSAC), Head of the support center for families affected by dementia (SAFE), Vice President of the Hong Kong Psychologists Association, Clinical Supervisor of the Asian Association of Professional Counselling (Hong Kong) (APCACS), director of the company NeuroCare Solution Limited.

Doctor Low Eng Ken Adrian – Doctor of Clinical and Organizational Psychology, President of the Hong Kong Psychology Association, Certified Brain Development Trainer, Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Worcester, HKU Adjunct Lecturer, School of Professional and Continuing Education (University of Hong Kong), Director of the company Adtigo Limited.

Mr. Chau Keng Tou – founder and director of the company Mars CRP Academy Limited, Leading Special Education Consultant (SEN), Bachelor of Science in Counseling, Lead Software Engineer, Pioneer of Intensive Sensory Integration Training, Founder of the CRP Program.

Ms. Kwan Ching Lam – psychologist, senior consultant and company trainer of Mars CRP Academy Limited.

Vice-Rector for International Relations Dmitry Chuikov and Dean of the Faculty of Continuing Education for Healthcare Workers of the Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Healthcare Personnel Tatyana Kalinina addressed the seminar participants with welcoming speech. The Department of General Medical Practice with a course in geriatrics and palliative medicine of the Institute of Advanced Training and Retraining of Healthcare Personnel was represented by the head of the department, Irina Pateyuk, and Associate Professor, Lyudmila Zhilevich. The event was also attended by the Chairperson of the Board of the Belarusian Association of Social Workers, Alena Stanislavchik.

The seminar was attended by the staff of the Department of General Medical Practice with a course in geriatrics and palliative medicine of Belarusian State Medical University, the Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine with a course of advanced training and retraining, and the Department of Psychiatry, Narcology, Psychotherapy, and Medical Psychology with a course of advanced training and retraining.

The seminar program included a presentation of methods for identifying early signs of dementia in outpatient settings, as well as a presentation of devices used to objectively assess cognitive impairment and the aging process:

· Presentation of instrumental diagnostic methods, including the AgeMeter device for assessing biological age and detecting early dementia;

· Consideration of non-invasive methods of therapy and activation of brain neuroplasticity;

· A practical workshop demonstrating equipment and techniques for working with patients with dementia and cognitive impairment;

· Discussion of modules for professional retraining and certification for doctors and rehabilitation specialists based on the experience of colleagues from Hong Kong.

The seminar provided a unique opportunity for lively dialogue and direct exchange of professional experience between Belarusian and Hong Kong mental health and rehabilitation specialists. The methods for diagnosing and correcting cognitive impairments presented at the event will find practical application: they are planned to be integrated into the educational and clinical processes of outpatient physicians.