Addressing Addiction, Mental Health and Hepatitis to Improve Outcomes
Cynthia PokuahLecture Hall 221 (ESA West)
Background
The intersection of hepatitis, mental health and addiction presents a unique opportunity to drive impactful interventions. The NOhep Medical Visionaries Programme, a practical and peer-led programme equipping medical professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to lead the fight against viral hepatitis, is driving the work in this space. This is in response to the growing evidence that people living with severe mental illness have an increased prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in comparison to the general population, often as a result of behaviours associated with these conditions, such as injection drug use and risky sexual behaviour. Severe depressive symptoms have been associated with an increased likelihood of sharing injecting equipment compared to mild or moderate depressive symptoms, highlighting the importance of addressing the three issues holistically.
Objectives
The NOhep Medical Visionaries programme aims to bridge the gap between medicine and public health and consists of medical professionals from varied disciplines, including addiction medicine.
The objectives of the NOhep Medical Visionaries workshop at ISAM 2025 are to:
• Spotlight the intersectionality between addiction, mental health and hepatitis.
• Empower NOhep Medical Visionaries with the knowledge and tools needed to holistically address addiction, mental health and hepatitis.
• Amplify the voices of NOhep Medical Visionaries to create the structural and policy changes needed to address addiction and mental health and reach the hepatitis global elimination goals.
• Build a broad community of NOhep Medical Visionaries.
The workshop will bring together leading professionals in this space and draw on the experience of medical professionals working across the three areas. By incorporating discussions on hepatitis and mental health alongside those on addiction it will enrich the perspectives on addiction in different settings and explore how holistic care can improve outcomes.