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40th Anniversary Celebrations

To celebrate its 40th anniversary CHS a series of special events were held:

Joint Schools Benefit Concert

Wednesday, 2 December 2009 19.30

After months of planning, and weeks of hard work in rehearsals, the biggest event of our anniversary year, the Schools Concert, took place in the beautiful auditorium of Woluwe European School with choirs, orchestras and jazz bands of the European Schools of Woluwe & Uccle, the International School of Brussels and St John’s International School.

The concert was attended by over 500 people, who were entertained by nearly 300 young musicians. Everyone present remarked upon the wonderful atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the youngsters.

The performances demonstrated an impressive level of talent in all the young musicians who participated and the audience was very appreciative of the variety of music played, which included Slavonic Dances by Dvořák, the Sanctus and Agnus Dei from Verdi's Requiem, Tuxedo Junction and The Rhythm of Life.

Final figures indicate that more than €7500 were raised for the CHS Help Line. With the success of the concert we are now considering running a Schools concert annually if we can find the resources to organise it again within CHS, so look out for publicity next year.

We would very much like to thank Richard Galvin the Director of the European School of Woluwe for his support and the team of Musical Directors, without whom the concert would not have been possible. Thanks also must go to Jan Haan, Penny Morgan and Steve Wilson of the European School of Woluwe; Eric Delson, Janet Smith and Carolyn Stock-Chapin of ISB; Alain Cupper and Bernard Verbaeys of the European School of Uccle Cathy Swanson and Lidia Alonso-Cabrera of St John’s.

Above, left to right: Malcolm Johnson (CHS),
Richard Galvin (Woluwe School Director),
Nick Fern (CHS), JoAnn Broger (CHS),
Howard Gutman (U.S. Ambassador to Belgium).

We would also like to thank all the supporters who very generously sponsored this event:

Alfa Romeo	Boston University	Brussels Business Institute for Higher Education	College of Advertising & Design
Domoxim	Euromut	Fiat	Fulcra International Financial Planning
Gosselin Moving	Italian Automotive Centre	Lancia	Map Relocations
Mig's Wines	Royal La Rasante Sporting Club	St. John's International School	The Bulletin
The European Schools of Woluwe and Uccle		The International School of Brussels

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CHS Conference: Far from home, challenges to mental health

21st November 2009

On November 21st 2009, CHS hosted a conference as part of the celebrations to mark the 40th Anniversary of Community Help Service at the ULB, campus Solbosch in Brussels.

Special thanks go to Sanofi-Aventis for their sponsorship of this event.

Our two guest speakers this year were Luc Moyson, Psychoanalytical Psychotherapist, head of the Residential Treatment Program for Adolescents at KUL Hospital, (UC St Josef, Kortenberg) and Johan Vanderlinden, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, head of the treatment of eating disorder patients at KUL Hospital (UC St Josef, Kortenberg).

Dr Lucy Fuks, Clinical Director of CHS opened the conference and spoke about the care offered by the Mental Health Centre and the Help Line. What sets us apart from other services here in Brussels is the international nature of the clients, mirrored by international professional staff and volunteers who together form a group representing all four corners of the globe. English is the common language, however, for both therapist and client, although often this language is not mother tongue. Many of us have lived in different countries and different cultures and we have now merged together in this cultural melting pot called Brussels.

An understanding of the special issues involved when one is confronted by another culture, another language, are key to our work. It is certainly not always easy to make a cross cultural marriage work. For the children, they learn that multiculturism is natural, however, issues of identity can be problematic. All this can be an extremely fulfilling experience, but sometimes a destabilising one. The decisions on where to attend university, where then is home, compounded perhaps by parents leaving Brussels for a new location, can be very difficult. For some fragile youngsters at this moment, it is too much and some support may be needed.

This question of difference can also be a stumbling block for those who experience narcissistic rage and eating disorders. Narcissism pushes us to consider others as inferior to us. But how can anyone help us then, when we feel in distress? Eating disorder patients spend their life under the dictatorship of some magnified idealised version of themselves. There again, there is no space for true otherness, which allows all the small differences to co-exist and constitute the real person.

Therefore, these topics were presented to us with these multi-cultural aspects in mind. Luc Moyson spoke first, on Narcissistic Rage, in theory and practice. CHS therapists Mimi Armstrong and Marie Therese Kastl moderated. Johan Vanderlinden, then spoke on Eating Disorders, the moderators were CHS therapists Anne Neuckermans and Philip Haake. The event closed with a drink and an opportunity to meet other delegates and the CHS therapeutic team.t CHS, we appreciate differences, listen and respond to client’s stories and concerns and aim to help people navigate a positive pathway through their lives.

Above centre: Luc Moyson, Psychoanalytical

Psychotherapist, head of the Residential Treatment
Program for Adolescents at KUL Hospital,

(UC St Josef, Kortenberg)

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Flute and Piano Concert

January 30th, 2009

A great concert was held on  in Holy Trinity Church, thanks to the Chaplain, The Rev. Dr Robert Innes and the Council. Wendy Quinlan (flute) and Heather Charlton (piano) provided the music, an eclectic collection of music from several centuries, culminating with a medley of Australian & New Zealand popular tunes arranged by them both, as an encore.

Wine, sponsored by Claire Smith, was served in the hall afterwards. The healthy profit made goes towards ensuring that the 24 Hour Help Line can continue to offer its services to the community.

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40th Anniversary

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