INVITATION TO ATTEND

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Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite you to the 46th Annual Society for Mental Health Research (SMHR) Conference, taking place from 25 to 27 November 2026 in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand. Significantly, this year’s conference is co-hosted with the Australasian Society for Bipolar and Depressive Disorders (ASBDD) with the aim of strengthening collaboration between our societies and the broader research and clinical communities.

The theme for this SMHR-ASBDD Conference is “Weaving Connection and Knowledge,” which represents our commitment to bringing together Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific approaches to improve mental health outcomes. The conference will unite clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience from across New Zealand and Australia, including members of SMHR and ASBDD.

By connecting perspectives and sharing knowledge, we aim to shape treatments, systems, and supports that address the biological, psychological, social, and societal factors influencing mental health. Central to this work is ensuring that long standing inequities in mental health outcomes are confronted and that care is accessible, culturally grounded, and effective for all.

We are honoured to host SMHR-ASBDD 2026 in Ōtautahi Christchurch, a place of deep cultural, historical, and environmental significance. Our venue, Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, stands as a symbol of the city’s regeneration, an anchor project in the rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes.

Te Pae’s design reflects the region’s mountains, braided rivers, and vast plains, and sits in an area that has long been a home, food gathering place, and trading hub for Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu, the mana whenua of the region. Gathering here gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the land, honour its stories, and learn from the Indigenous knowledge systems that continue to shape wellbeing in Aotearoa, alongside weaving connection and knowledge from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples and perspectives.

Located in the heart of the city, Te Pae offers easy access to cultural, retail, and dining precincts, along with art galleries, museums, and green spaces. The wider Canterbury region also offers breathtaking natural landscapes and activities for those wishing to explore.

SMHR-ASBDD 2026 will feature a full programme supporting students and emerging researchers, including:

• Symposia, free papers, and poster presentations
• Travel grants and carer fellowships
• Discounted registration for students

We encourage submissions from across disciplines and career stages to ensure a vibrant and inclusive scientific programme.

We warmly invite you to submit your abstract and be part of this important gathering. Together, we will weave diverse knowledge systems, strengthen our connections, and contribute to transformative change in mental health care. Please share this announcement with your colleagues and networks. We look forward to welcoming you to Ōtautahi Christchurch for SMHR-ASBDD 2026.

Sincerely,

Co-Convenor's
Professor Sarah Hetrick (SMHR) 
Dr Maree Inder (ASBDD Co-chair)

ASBDD Co-Chair
Associate Professor Aswin Ratheesh

SMHR President
Professor Stephen Wood