Message from Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO Mental Health Conference Hanoi, Vietnam Dear Colleagues in Vietnam, It gives me much pleasure to send greetings and thoughts of friendship and respect on the occasion of your Mental Health Conference in beautiful Hanoi I deeply regret that I am unable to join you at this special gathering of Vietnamese and Australian colleagues, working together in the interests of humanity I look back with gratitude and respect on my first visit with colleagues in Hanoi in 1987, when lifelong friendships were formed, and collaboration with Australian colleagues was initiated I am confident that these bonds between our two groups will never weaken, and that over the years this will contribute to better mental health in our Asia-Pacific region My best wishes are with you all for a successful and fulfilling Conference Professor Marie R Bashir AC CVO Governor of New South Wales