Abstracts for TheMHS Conference 2025 

Anyone interested in mental health can submit an abstract for consideration for TheMHS Conference 2025 Brisbane program. 

We ask when submitting an abstract you consider the conference theme 'Envisioning 2050: Towards a better mental health system'.

Abstract Submissions close 28 Feb 2025. People will be notified of the outcomes of their submission by late April/ early May.

Please read the following instructions carefully, to avoid submitting an incomplete abstract.

In addition to the usual abstract submissions - NEW for 2024 is the Improbable Ideas Symposium click here for more information about the symposium.

TheMHS Conference abstract submission portal  
 

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION PROCESS

Your abstract must be submitted online. After filling in your personal details, the abstract submission process involves entering the following: 

  1. Abstract Title 
  2. Presentation Type 
  3. Themes
  4. Keywords
  5. Authors/Organisations 
  6. Abstract  
  7. Impact on Audience 
  8. References 

Abstracts are accepted on the following conditions: 

  • Papers must be presented by the authors. Proxies will not be permitted except in an emergency such as illness or misadventure. 
  • The Committee reserves the right to accept or refuse any submission. 
  • The Committee reserves the right to allocate a session time or presentation type, which differs from that applied for. 
  • Wherever possible, ensure that a range of stakeholders including people with a lived or living experience of mental ill-health, are included as presenters in oral papers, symposia, workshops, debates and roundtables. 
  • Do not include tables, diagrams or graphs in the abstract.
  • Abstract submissions that do not adhere to the guidelines will not be accepted.
  • If an abstract is accepted for presentation, all presenting authors will be required to register and pay for at least one day of the conference that the presentation is programmed on.

Please note: 

  • That only the first author (as given in the application) will be advised in regard to the abstract submission acceptance and any correspondence about the presentation.  
  • All presenters must register & pay for at least the day of the conference on which they are presenting. 

Click here to submit your abstract

Abstract Guidelines 
  • The abstract is a brief overview of what will be covered in the presentation. It is NOT a brief discussion of the topic.
  • Abstract should read as a standalone overview of the entire project, and should engage readers enough that they want to learn more. 
  • An abstract should address 6 main points/section, with one to three sentences only per point/section. 
    1. Begin with an overall statement about the topic 
      • Introduce the key words / major ideas from the topic of the presentation 
      • What makes this topic distinct / significant to this conference 
    2. The purpose of the presentation 
      • A clear statement of what is the intent of YOUR Presentation 
      • Where will you go with this? 
      • How will your Presentation make a specific contribution to this conference? 
      • Why is the topic important or what are the gaps in the research? 
    3. The literature / background. No need for references here – unless your presentation is specifically focused on a particular reference, paper, book etc.) 
      • What is the background to the work / topic etc.? 
      • Major statistics that highlight the problems / issues 
      • What literature have you drawn on – used to inform your work / approach? 
    4. The methods/approach taken to the work 
      • How have you approached the requirements for the presentation? 
      • What is briefly the big picture? 
      • How have you operationalised YOUR topic? 
      • Outline the factors that focus on the specific issues 
      • Identify the methods used e.g. case studies, questions for participants (If it is helpful) 
    5. Important findings and implications – Outline the main findings and state what the implications are for 
      • Mental health 
      • Your work / topic for THIS Presentation. 
    6. The conclusions of the paper 
      • Give the reader a clear idea of what YOUR conclusions are and their significance 
      • State what is your “take home message” from this Presentation

TheMHS Learning Network is a not-for-profit learning network for improving mental health services in Australia and New Zealand

© 2023 TheMHS Learning Network Inc