Recent news • WPA

$It is with great sadness that the WPA announces the sudden passing of Dr Wilfredo Pérez, President of the Venezuelan Psychiatric Association (VPA) and valued contributor to the WPA. He served both organizations with great commitment, and his loss is felt particularly strongly among the psychiatric communities of Venezuela and Latin America. Dr Wilfredo Pérez As a colleague, Dr. Pérez is remembered as a great human being – generous and empathetic. As a Professor, he is remembered for his commitment to psychiatry both as an academic and a professional. Dr. Pérez graduated as a psychiatrist from the Central University of Venezuela, where he was also spent his later years as a Professor. He developed an outstanding professional career as a forensic psychiatrist, after having graduated with a master\'s degree in forensic science from the University of La Plata, Argentina.$

WPA Post

Jul 24, 2020

In Memoriam: Dr. Wilfredo De Jesús Pérez Delgado. MD (1967-2020)

Par ~

“We are very sorry to hear of the sudden death of Dr. Pérez,” said WPA President, Professor Helen Herrman AO, “we offer our sincere condolences…

As COVID-19 (caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2) sweeps the globe causing high morbidity and mortality; psychiatrists, their patients, families, caregivers and healthcare workers face unprecedented rapidly evolving challenges. The WPA Standing Committee on Ethics and Review was asked by the WPA President Helen Herrman to provide guidance on ethical and clinical issues regarding the roles of psychiatrists and the protection of individuals with mental disorders arising from the pandemic.

WPA Post

Jul 22, 2020

WPA launches Position Paper on Psychiatry and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Par WPA Secretariat

The Committee recognized that while national/regional differences in circumstances and responses to COVID-19 exist dependent on prevalence and resources; many commonalities are also clear. The…

The COVID-19 pandemic influences both physical and mental health, the economy, as well as social life on all continents. Suicide is of international concern with figures showing that Woman in red coat Danuta Wasserman approximately 800,000 people die by suicide each year (this number being underestimated). It has previously been shown that while suicide rates may momentarily decrease during times of crises, once the immediate crisis has passed, suicide rates increase. Suicide occurs when there is an imbalance of risk and protective factors on individual, relationship, community and society levels. In order to successfully combat the likely increase of suicide during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence-based suicide preventive methods must be strengthened.

WPA Post

Jul 22, 2020

Suicide Prevention During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence-Based Recommendations 2020

Par Danuta Wasserman, WPA Section on Suicidology

Suicide Prevention During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence-Based Recommendations 2020 - a report authored on behalf of the WPA Section of Suicidology by Professor…

Deadline for Geneva Prize submissions extended to 31 March 2021

WPA Post

Jul 19, 2020

Deadline for Geneva Prize submissions extended to 31 March 2021

Par ~

The Council of Foundation has announced that the deadline for Geneva Prize submissions has been extended to 31 March 2021. The decision to defer the…

A briefing on public mental health and COVID-19 has been published by the WPA 2020-2023 Action Plan working group on Public Mental Health. The briefing summarises: Physical impacts of COVID-19 Mental health impacts of COVID-19 Prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection Public mental health interventions including to address COVID-19 Public mental health intervention implementation gap Action to address the public mental health intervention implementation gap including for COVID-19 International and country resources Courses and training The briefing was written by Dr Jonathan Campion, Director for Public Mental Health at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and lead for the working group on Public Mental Health for the WPA Action Plan 2020-23.

WPA Post

Jul 14, 2020

WPA Working Group launches Public Mental Health Briefing on COVID-19

Par ~

Dr Afzal Javed, President Elect of the World Psychiatric Association said: The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) welcomes this timely briefing on public mental health and…

Michel Botbol, Secretary for Scientific Publications of the WPA, and César Alfonso, Chair of the WPA Psychotherapy Section, will be Guest Editors of a Special Issue of the journal Asia-Pacific Psychiatry themed “Transcultural Psychotherapy”. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Allan Tasman, is committed to publish this Special Issue. Selected articles for this Special Issue on “Transcultural Psychotherapy” will demonstrate the importance of cultural adaptations in psychotherapy across all clinical settings in the Asia-Pacific region (and other regions of the world). Cultural adaptation of psychotherapies strives for compatibility and alignment with values and belief systems, cultural idioms of distress, health-seeking behaviours, and culture-specific understanding of disease processes and illness experiences.

WPA Post

Jul 11, 2020

Call for Papers: Asia-Pacific Psychiatry Special Issue on Transcultural Psychotherapy

Par Michel Botbol, WPA Secretary for Scientific Publications and César Alfonso, Chair of the WPA Psychotherapy Section

A framework for adaptation seeks to achieve better clinical outcomes and may include adjustments in therapy techniques that incorporate family to better engage individual patients,…