Post by Annelies Verkest

Sunday afternoon... recovering from the past four intense days. On Wednesday, we arrived in Mechelen for the 20th edition of the Horatio Congress, bringing together 300 psychiatric and mental health nurses from all over the world. Stad Mechelen, Thomas More-hogeschool, NETWERK VERPLEEGKUNDE and especially Liesbet Van Bos (zij/haar) had done everything possible to give us a warm welcome. "Rooted. Resilient. Ready." was the theme of the congress, and the programme reflected this perfectly. It explored our history as a psychiatric nurse, addressed the challenges and threats facing psychiatric and mental health nurses today, and looked ahead to a vision for the future of our profession. Through the inspiring words of Cheryl Forchuk, Hildegard Peplau seemed to speak to us once again: “If we spend less time assessing ourselves than assessing the patient, then we are far away from the theory of Hildegard Peplau.” This congress inspired me and reaffirmed who I am and who I want to be as a psychiatric nurse—something that has been part of me since the day I graduated. “This is who I am.” (Thank you Hanna Tuvesson) I want to share this with my students and be an example in who I am as a lecturer at Hogeschool VIVES and as a youth counsellor at TEJO vzw. Let us revive and strengthen the identity of psychiatric and mental health nursing so that this remarkable profession can continue to fulfill its essential purpose: “People heal in relationships.” ❤️ to all the wonderful persons I met in Mechelen, with special memories shared with: Anne Terese Eikeland, Nina Camilla Wergeland, Christophe Casteleyn, Jürgen Magerman, Bart Debyser, Christian Burr, Liesbeth Dockx, Hanne Vandewiele, Julie Vandekerckhove, Lindsay Van Belle, Bruce Vrancken, Karel Desmet, Wouter Decock, Delfien Staelens, Kevin Berben, Evi Mervilde, Dirk Richter, Dirk Benoot, Joeri Vandewalle, Caressa Van Hoe, Nina Harth, Dominique de Marné, Aisling Culhane, Nina Kilkku, Martina Dubovcova, Kris Vaneerdewegh, Alexei Sammut, Marcia Gafa`... and many more to never forget.