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Q2 2024
Dear Friends,
I hope you will enjoy reading our Q2 2024 WPA eNewsletter – WPA Review, which includes a wide range of reports, highlighting the latest developments and events from our WPA components as well as my attendance at the recent 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77).
The World Health Assembly is a significant event convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) annually for an entire week and brings together delegations from all WHO Member States. The assembly is an essential forum for discussing global health policies, setting goals, and making decisions on major public health issues.
The WHA77 was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 27 May – 1 June 2024, with a central theme: All for Health, Health for All. This includes addressing the social determinants of health and increasing the accessibility of quality health services for all, especially in underserved and low-income communities.
At WHA77, key topics included the ongoing global response to communicable diseases, strategies for non-communicable diseases, health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, strengthening health emergency preparedness and response in cities and urban settings and many more. The assembly also discussed and endorsed the WHO's program budget for the upcoming biennium, emphasizing the need for global health systems' sustainable financing.
A significant feature of WHA77 was the series of strategic roundtables. During these sessions, WHA delegates, partner agencies, representatives of civil society, and WHO experts convened to discuss current and future priorities for public health issues of global importance. These discussions were aimed at fostering collaborative approaches and developing cohesive strategies to tackle pressing health challenges.
In addition to formal sessions, the WHA77 featured workshops and symposiums facilitated by various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, academic institutions, and private sector partners. These events allow for more in-depth discussions on specific health issues and foster collaboration and innovation in public health. For a full recap of the assembly, please refer to https://www.who.int/about/accountability/governance/world-health-assembly/seventy-seventh.
The outcomes of WHA77, including resolutions and action plans, are aimed at guiding global health policy and practice over the next few years, influencing how health challenges are addressed in different regions and contributing to the overall goal of achieving better health for everyone, everywhere.
Nonstate actors were also invited to present short statements.
I attended the WHA77 and presented the following statement to highlight the need for continual support and permanent allocation of governmental funding for mental health in each member country.
*** Beginning of statement
Approximately 1 billion people (13% of the global population) live with mental disorders, anxiety and depression being the most common.
Eight percent of children and 14% of adolescents have mental disorders of which 50% begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24, with anxiety, depression, and ADHD being the most prevalent.
Access to population-based preventive and mental health services is inadequate everywhere, especially in low- and middle-income countries with a treatment gap of 90%.
Globally only 2% of health expenditures are directed towards mental health.
Addressing the consequences of poor mental health on the world population and economy requires the permanent allocation of governmental funding in relation to the prevalence and burden of mental disorders in each country.
***End of Statement***
As we move into the third quarter of 2024, I would like to thank everyone who has been working to help make this triennium’s Action Plan a reality. I do hope you enjoy reading the WPA eNewsletter and we would like to thank you for all of your contributions. WPA remains as always committed to supporting our components and thanks you all for the ongoing support you provide to us in return.
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.
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We look forward to meeting with you at the 24th WCP
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Learn more about this year's 24th WPA World Congress of Psychiatry in Mexico here.
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Updates from WPA Components
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During last’s years’ WPA World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP24), the General Assembly approved a number of ongoing projects from the previous Triennium to be completed during the current Triennium. Prof. Afzal Javed (past WPA President) provides an update here.
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WPA, in collaboration with the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, recently published three significant commissions that address crucial aspects of psychiatric education, public mental health, and the mental wellbeing of international medical graduates. Prof. Afzal Javed explains more here.
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Prof. Alexander Smith and Prof. Michael Liebrenz (members of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) Geopsychiatry Special Interest Group (SIG), Prof. Afzal Javed (past WPA President and member of the WPA Geopsychiatry SIG), Prof. Albert Persaud (Co-Chair of the WPA Geopsychiatry SIG), and Prof. Dinesh Bhugra (past President of the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and WPA, and a member of the Geopsychiatry SIG), collaborated on an article that was recently published in the Lancet Journal. The article discusses how restrictive visa policies continue to impede researcher mobility and scientific exchanges. Read more here.
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Updates from WPA Collaborating Centres
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Professor Kamaldeep Bhui commends the WPA President's strategy on Public Mental Health and how, as Directors of the Collaborating Centres, they will be supporting the presidential strategy through scholarship and research, Read more here.
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Prof. Thelma Sanchez, WPA Board Member for Zone 3, provides an update on the ethical panel in the 24th WPA World Congress of Psychiatry being held in Mexico later this year and how the codes of ethics are being implemented at the WPA. Read more here.
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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
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Upcoming WPA World, Thematic, Regional and Co-Sponsored Congresses
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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.
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