|
Q1 2024
Dear Friends,
I hope you will enjoy reading this year’s first edition of our WPA eNewsletter – WPA Review, which includes a wide range of reports, highlighting the latest developments and events from our WPA components as well as news about a new WPA collaboration with the United Nations Secretariat – Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development Goals.
The Action Plan for 2023-2026 is grounded in the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and designed to make advancements towards good mental health a collaborative effort among individuals and institutions from all corners of society. Towards that end, we are proud to have launched the 2024 WPA Medical Student Essay Competition on the theme of “Improving Mental Health in the Global World Using the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals” with the support of the United Nations Secretariat – Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, the first activity to come from this new collaboration.
I hope for the WPA to effect systemic change towards the improvement of mental health and the prevention of mental health disorders, and I strongly believe that redefining the role of the psychiatrist in that system will play a vital part in that transition. Psychiatrists must lead the conversation about evidence-based prevention and treatment possibilities for mental health problems, but must also discover innovative ways to encourage non-health sectors of society to join that conversation.
This essay contest provides a platform for medical students from around the world to share their ideas on how the United Nations SDGs can contribute to that conversation surrounding mental health, and the WPA looks forward to showcasing the most promising of these ideas and their authors.
As always, the WPA Medical Student Essay Competition welcomes submissions from medical students currently enrolled in any accredited medical school worldwide. Essays will be evaluated by psychiatrists from around the world using a modified version of the Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition scoring rubric, and all finalists, along with the full text of their essays, will be prominently featured on the WPA website.. The winning essay will be translated into all six official languages of the World Health Organization (WHO), and its author will be honored during the 24th World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP 2024) in Mexico City and will receive a Travel Award of up to $1500 USD to facilitate their participation in the congress.
As we move into the second quarter of 2024, I would like to thank everyone who has been working to help make this triennium’s Action Plan a reality. We will hear more on these initiatives next quarter.
We look forward to continuing this great initiative that helps to share your news and encourage you to submit your latest updates, insights and innovations in psychiatry and mental health.
All my best,
Danuta
Prof. Danuta Wasserman
WPA President
Scroll down to read ALL the latest WPA news or use the links below to jump straight to items that interest you most. Please note that the links may not work on some mobile phone or tablet devices.
|
|
|
We look forward to meeting with you at the 24th WCP
|
|
Learn more about this year's 24th WPA World Congress of Psychiatry in Mexico here.
|
|
|
Updates from WPA Components
|
|
|
Updates from WPA Member Societies
|
|
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria summarises its activities in the first quarter of 2024. Read more here.
|
|
|
|
Updates from WPA Scientific Sections
|
|
Joan Soler-Vidal (Chair of the Digital Mental Health Section) shares the news of their ongoing partnership with the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. Read more here.
|
|
|
The Section on Genetics in Psychiatry provides an update on the PSY-PGx's progress and achievements. Read more here.
|
|
|
The Section Psychiatric Electrophysiology celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first reliable electroencephalogram (EEG). Read more here.
|
|
|
The Scientific Sections on Psychological Consequences of Torture and Persecution and of Sport and Exercise Psychiatry discuss how they are addressing the mental health impact of human rights violations and mass violence through their research. Read more here.
|
|
|
The Section on Psychiatry, Law and Ethics shares news on the section's new office-bearers as well as their Inter-Sectional Symposium, which was held during the 30th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Social Psychiatry (a WPA Member Society) at Raipur, India) in November last year. Read more here.
|
|
|
|
Prof. Bernardo Ng, WPA Board Member for Zone 2, highlights a successful gathering of the members from Zones 1,2,3,4 and 5, who met to work on a document that will allow the region to work together and better to the benefit of psychiatrists and patients in the Americas. Read more here.
|
|
|
Chan-Seung Chung and Prof. Yong Chon Park, WPA Board Members for Zone 17, discuss the current health crisis in South Korea. Read more here.
|
|
|
Reminders from the Secretariat's Office
Dear WPA Components,
We would also like to ask the Member Societies to ensure we have their latest contact information. Please email us here if there any changes to your details.
Thank you for your continued support and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Your Secretariat Team
|
|
|
|
Upcoming WPA World, Thematic, Regional and Co-Sponsored Congresses
|
|
Take advantage of a wealth of opportunities to learn from the latest research data, the best experts in all fields of mental health, high-quality scientific content, and relevant peer-to-peer networking at the WPA World, Thematic, Regional and Co-Sponsored Congresses. Learn more here.
|
|
|
|
|
