Concurrent 3E: Integrating Mental Health, Harm Reduction and Hepatitis Care to Improve Outcomes
Tracks
Track 5
| Thursday, October 16, 2025 |
| 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM |
| Discussion Space |
Details
Integrating mental health, harm reduction services and hepatitis care has become increasingly essential. Studies have found that people living with severe mental illness have an increased prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in comparison to the general population. Screening in mental health care settings, both inpatient and community care, is an important part of a comprehensive hepatitis elimination response. This session will focus on the expansion of the NOhep Medical Visionaries programme and the efforts to bridge the gap between hepatitis and mental health care. The session will build upon the discussions started at INSHU 2024, and will highlight the progress made since then and set out a roadmap for how integrating mental health within hepatitis and harm reduction responses can help to achieve hepatitis elimination. During the session we will share resources and create a community of practice by fostering collaboration between hepatologists, psychiatrists, mental health practitioners, and those in the harm reduction space. Through this we aim to enhance patient care, improve testing and treatment adherence and reduce stigma.
Speaker
Miss Cynthia Pokuah
Project Coordinator
World Hepatitis Alliance
Integrating Mental Health, Harm Reduction and Hepatitis Care to Improve Outcomes
Biography
Ms Rachel Halford
CEO
The Hepatitis C Trust
Introduction
11:15 AM - 11:20 AMBiography
Prof Ashley Brown
Professor Of Viral Hepatitis
Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust
Establishing Opt-Out Testing for Blood Borne Virus' in Inpatient Mental Health Units
11:20 AM - 11:25 AMBiography
Dr Jacqui Richmond
Workforce Development And Health Service Delivery Lead, Elimination Hepatitis C Australia
Burnet Institute
Integrating Hepatitis Testing to Accelerate Elimination
11:25 AM - 11:30 AMBiography
Jacqui Richmond is a registered nurse with a PhD working at the Burnet Institute in the Eliminate hepatitis C Australia partnership. Jacqui is recognised for her expertise in developing and implementing nurse-led models of care for marginalised communities. A recurring theme of her work is highlighting the role of nurses in viral hepatitis testing and treatment, and the importance of workforce development and interprofessional collaboration in achieving viral hepatitis elimination.
Dr Andrew Scheibe
MD and INHSU board member
TB HIV Care
Integrating Viral Hepatitis Testing in Community Harm Reduction and Correctional Settings
11:30 AM - 11:35 AMBiography
Prof Ashley Brown
Professor Of Viral Hepatitis
Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMBiography
Ms Rachel Halford
CEO
The Hepatitis C Trust
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMBiography
Dr Jacqui Richmond
Workforce Development And Health Service Delivery Lead, Elimination Hepatitis C Australia
Burnet Institute
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMBiography
Jacqui Richmond is a registered nurse with a PhD working at the Burnet Institute in the Eliminate hepatitis C Australia partnership. Jacqui is recognised for her expertise in developing and implementing nurse-led models of care for marginalised communities. A recurring theme of her work is highlighting the role of nurses in viral hepatitis testing and treatment, and the importance of workforce development and interprofessional collaboration in achieving viral hepatitis elimination.
Dr Andrew Scheibe
MD and INHSU board member
TB HIV Care
Panel Discussion
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMBiography
INHSU 2025
Q&A
11:55 AM - 12:10 PMBiography
Ms Rachel Halford
CEO
The Hepatitis C Trust
Conclusion & Closing Remarks
12:10 PM - 12:15 PMBiography
Facilitator
Rachel Halford
CEO
The Hepatitis C Trust