ALICIA PORTER
Dr. Alicia Porter is a dedicated Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and the clinical head of the child and family unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She lectures in Psychiatry at the University of the Witwatersrand and holds specialist qualifications from the College of Medicine of SA and the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr. Porter, a passionate advocate for mental health, earned a Diploma in Human Rights, Mental Health, and Law from India in 2019. She co-coordinates the Healthcare Workers Care Network and has been instrumental in supporting healthcare workers during the Covid pandemic.
Dr. Porter’s focus areas include child and adolescent mental health, workplace mental health, women’s mental health, and burnout prevention. Actively involved in mental health awareness initiatives, she has taken on significant challenges, from Everest Base Camp to Kilimanjaro, and the Tankwa Camino to fundraise and raise awareness. She also serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the South African Society of Psychiatrists.
‘Burning the candle at both ends’. Burnout in healthcare workers-nurses, doctors, allied health workers/ has been adapted to teachers and corporates- what is burnout, how to recognise burnout, practical strategies to cope with burnout. Focus is on creating awareness, using story telling to normalise experiences. Practical, rather than didactic.
Self-care- ‘walking a tight rope’- examining self care, what it is, myths, practical strategies. Challenges the culture of self sacrifice, and focuses on fostering both personal and organisational changes to create healthier work environments.
All the feels and pint sized panic- anxiety and depression in children and adolescents- what does this look like. Children are not little adults. Increase in mental health conditions in children. Looks different. Practical strategies for parents.
Creating awareness
Conquering mountains- using my experiences mountaineering for reflection, mindfulness and motivation. lessons learned through the different experiences.
‘The struggle is real- parenting and connection in the digital age’- the big disconnect with families in the digital age, practical strategies for parents to implement.
Talks are geared toward creating awareness around mental health concerns in a practical and relatable way. They will be educated and empowered with information, delivered in a relatable and vulnerable way. Audience participation is encouraged. Mental health has been a ‘taboo’ topic for the longest time, so I come as both the expert and the ‘patient’/ learner.
