Abstract submission is now closed.

Individuals or organisations interested in presenting at the conference are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words outlining the aim and content of their proposed paper, workshop or poster. A program will be developed, based on the process and review criteria below, that will provide a range of perspectives and address a number of key emerging themes.

Conference Theme and Important Information

The theme 'The Fabric of Life' invites speakers and delegates to consider the significance of mental health and mental health nursing in the construction of individual and social narratives. Contributors are encouraged to consider how the theme relates to the paper that they propose to present, but are advised that all papers must include a title that makes it easy for people to identify what the paper is going to address. The exclusive use (or over-use) of metaphor, either in the paper title, the abstract or the final presentation is strongly discouraged.

Contributors are advised that the ACMHN International conference provides delegates with a program that reflects and leads contemporary mental health nursing practice. As such, all abstracts and papers are to be presented using appropriate terminology for people who experience mental health issues. Terms such as 'mentally ill people', 'the mentally ill' and 'the mentally ill case' are disrespectful and not accepted. Rather, descriptors should be person-centred, such as 'people/person who experiences XYZ', consumer, service user or client'. Abstracts which do not meet this basic criteria will not be eligible for review.

Abstract Review Process

The ACMHN uses a blind review process for all submissions to present at the International Conference and strives to include high quality research and clinical papers. This process is overseen by the Scientific Chair/co-Chairs.

All contributions satisfying the basic requirements will be subject to a blind review by at least two independent reviewers, who will have no knowledge of the name of the author(s) or of the other reviewer(s). Members of the ACMHN Board are not eligible to participate in the review process.

Reviewers apply a simple set of criteria (see below) to each abstract, which are then given a numerical ranking out of a possible 20 points.

Abstracts are then tabulated according to their numerical ranking and submission date i.e. abstracts which attract the same ranking are then ordered according to the date of submission, with contributions submitted first, listed first. And offers are made to contributors from the highest ranking contribution down, and a program is developed.

Where a contributor is not able to participate, or withdraws their abstract from the program, an offer is made to the next contributor down the list to take their place in the program.

Abstract Review Criteria

Abstracts are ranked out of a possible 20 points according to the following 4 criteria.

1. Format - to what extent does the proposal provide a good fit for the suggested delivery format
   (mark out of 5)
2. Research or innovation quality - to what extent has the presentation proposal described the research method and rationale, or the significance of the innovation, and what evidence is there to suggest the research is of good quality? (mark out of 5)
3. Wide interest to mental health professionals - has the presenter described the issue in a way that makes it accessible to, and of interest to, a wide audience of primarily mental health professionals?
   (mark out of 5)
4. Impact on mental health/nursing - contributors are encouraged to address the question of what impact (broadly defined) their research/practice issues will have on the profession. (mark out of 5)

Key Dates

• Abstracts open: Monday 23rd January 2012
• Abstracts close: Sunday 13th May 2012
• Notification to Authors: Monday 16th July 2012
• Author Acceptances: Friday 27th July 2012
• Draft Program available: Friday 3rd August 2012