The 108th annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) was held May 24-26, 2012 in Sapporo, the capital of the northern island of Hokkaido. This historic city is famous for its Snow Festival, Sapporo Brewery...

Given the current model of Armenian healthcare system that lacks a comprehensive mental health program approved by the government, a working group has been created in 2012 to develop a mental health strategy for the Republic of Armenia...

Report on the WPA co-sponsored “1st International Congress of Early Career Psychiatrists” with the theme “Towards Professionalism in Psychiatry”, held in Cairo, Egypt on 9-11 January 2013...

The Croatian Psychiatric Association (CPA) was founded in 1992, and is a member of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) since June 1993. The CPA organizes a psychiatric congress every four years (five have been organized so far - Split 1994...

The 65th Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society held at NIMHANS Bangalore on 10-13 January 2013 was a grand success. With over 3,700 registrations, it has set a new record. More than 225 Posters, 225 free papers...

The Congress of the German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN) is one of the annual highlights for scientists, doctors and therapists. Each year more than 9,000 participants and 1,600 speakers meet...

The French Psychiatric Information Society (SIP) produces scientific data, information and articles in collaboration with the Union of Hospital Psychiatrists (SPH) and the Journal of Psychiatric Information (Information psychiatrique)...

On 10 October 2012, the Sudanese Psychiatric Association celebrated the World Mental Health Day. The celebration was held in Abel Al Al Idrissi Hospital. This is the state hospital for treating the criminally insane and patients who are dangerous...

The 17th biennial national SASOP Congress was held on 7-11 September 2012 in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg, with the theme: “Pride, prejudice and promise – from origins to outcomes”...

Antoine BESSE left us suddenly on Monday, 8th of October 2012, struck by a massive heart attack at the end of a French Federation of Psychiatry business meeting which he was participating in as the President of the Section on Therapeutics...

As previously announced, the III Congress of Psychiatrists of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12-14 October 2012, as the first national congress of our Association after its reorganization in 2008...

A primary care in mental health workshop was organized for LHVs, Paramedics, GPs and health professionals from all over AJK; over 30 participants were trained...

On 1 January 2013 Professor Aartjan T. F. Beekman was appointed president of the Netherlands Psychiatric Association. He succeeds Professor Rutger Jan van der Gaag who in turn has been appointed President of the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG)...

The 46th National Conference of the Italian Psychiatric Association (SIP) took place last October in Milan, Italy, and was attended by WPA’s President, Prof. Pedro Ruiz, President-Elect, Prof. Dinesh Bhugra, and Past-President, Prof. Mario Maj...

The second most important Conference of our Society - the National Mid-term CME (Continuing Medical Education) - which was held at Bodhgaya (the birthplace of Lord Buddha) on September 1-2, 2012 was a grand success...

The Young Psychiatrists’ Network (YPN) is a rapidly growing movement of young and active psychiatrists from all over the world, eager to reunite psychiatric theory and practice and ensure transfer of knowledge between different psychiatric traditions...

The Lithuanian Psychiatric Association is the largest organization in Lithuania for mental health professionals whose mission is to ensure the care of community mental health. Established in 1990, it currently has been joined by the majority of Lithuanian psychiatrists...

The WPA action plan for the triennium 2011 – 2014 set by WPA President Prof. Pedro Ruiz and approved by the WPA General Assembly included an emphasis on training and education especially for middle and low income countries around the world. Several programs were held in the form of “Educational Seminars”...

President of the Czech Republic Václav Klaus awarded on the occasion of Czechoslovakia Foundation Day on October 28, 2012 the Medal of Merit to Professor Jiri Raboch stating "... is a excellent Czech psychiatrist, head of the Psychiatric Department...

During the 46th National Congress of the Italian Psychiatric Society held in Milan, Italy, on October 7-11, 2012, Dr. Francesca Brambilla was recognized with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her scientific contributions on behalf of the World Psychiatric Association’s Section on Psychoneuroendocrinology...

Over 1,040 delegates attended The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ 47th annual Congress in Hobart from 20 to 24 May 2012.

The Swedish Psychiatric Association managed this year to gather 620 of its members at the annual Congress. 

The new Executive Council (EC) of the Indian Psychiatric Society assumed office during the 64th Annual Conference of the Society at Kochi on January 19-22, 2012.

Crises and Disasters occur very frequently in our world. Some of them are natural, others are human-made. 

This Symposium was organized by the Association for Biological Psychiatry/Psychopharmacology in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ABPPFBH) and the Department of Psychiatry of University Clinical Center Sarajevo.

Report on activities

The Argentinean Congresses of Psychiatry organized by the Argentinean Psychiatrists Association (APSA) have become a traditional event all around the Latin American Southern Cone Region.

Early this year, thousands of passengers arriving daily at JFK Airport in New York City were greeted by a billboard without a welcome message or the usual scenic photo of the Big Apple. 

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (UK) awards Honorary Fellowships to Professor Dinesh Bhugra and Professor Mario Maj. An edited version of the citations that accompanied this honour are reproduced below.

WPA Co-sponsored XIV National congress of the Serbian Psychiatric Association and the III Eastern European Psychiatric Congress will be held from 18-21 April 2012 in Sava Centre, Belgrade (Serbia), under the auspices of President of Republic of Serbia.

Determining the socio-demographic and clinical profile of psychiatric outpatients is crucial to identify the needs but also to optimize screening procedures.

The Spanish Society of Psychiatry (SEP), together with the Spanish Society of Biological Psychiatry (SEPB), hosted the Third Conference on Journals with Impact Factor in Psychiatry, which was held on 17-18 February 2012 in Palma, Mallorca.

The French “Société of Information Psychiatrique (SIP)”, whose President, Nicole Garret Gloanec is also the current president of the French Federation for Psychiatry, is holding its annual meeting on 3-6 October 2012 in Lyon (co-sponsored by the WPA).

The Sudanese Association of Psychiatrists pays its compliments and thanks to the WPA Executive Committee and member associations for their continued support extended to our Association.

A workshop for media persons on the theme “Mind” and Health - An awareness programme for media, was organized in Lahore, Punjab on 13 December 2011 in which 60 senior journalists from print media and electronic media participated.

The Swedish Psychiatric Association's (SPF) participation in the Swedish Annual General Meeting for Medical Doctors on 30 November-2 December 2011 with distinguished international and Swedish lecturers was a success. The great hall at the Stockholm International Fairs was packed at the psychiatric section of the program in the afternoon of 1 December.

The Indonesian Psychiatric Association has developed some sections in the association to fulfill the need of members of the association who come from many backgrounds and interests.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has a busy annual conference schedule that promises something for everyone. WPA members are warmly invited to attend our events.

The Hungarian Psychiatric Association (HPA) held its 17th Annual Conference on 26-28 January 2012. The venue was in Debrecen, the north-eastern Hungarian university town, and one of the cultural hubs of Hungary. This year’s theme was “Body-Soul-Family-Community: The Borders of Developing Psychiatry”.

We present the report on the WPA Regional Meeting which was held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on 3-5 November 2011. The main theme of the meeting was “Asian mental health: Current and future prospective”. It was a good opportunity for us to share the mental health promotion in Asia with different experts from all over the world.

The Cyprus Psychiatric Association organized a Symposium on “Medical Ethics, Group Psychotherapy and Person Centered Medicine”, on 13-14 January 2012 at the University of Nicosia.

The French “Société of Information Psychiatrique (SIP)”, whose President, Nicole Garret Gloanec is also the current president of the French Federation for Psychiatry, is holding its annual meeting on 3-6 October 2012 in Lyon (co-sponsored by the WPA).

A working group has been created to develop a Mental Health Policy for the Republic of Armenia within the framework of a signed Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and Open Society Foundations - Armenia.

Professor Dinesh Bhugra, Past-President of the Royal College of psychiatrists and President-Elect of the WPA was awarded CBE (the second highest civilian honour) by H.M. The Queen for services to psychiatry in the 2012 New Years Honours List

The German Association for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (DGPPN) invites you to the upcoming DGPPN Congress on 21-24 November 2012 in Berlin, Germany.

The 64th Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS 2012) was held at the beautiful city of Kochi, Kerala, India, January 19-22, 2012. It was a hugely successful event with the participation of more than 3500 delegates, along with representatives from 30 countries from around the globe.

The Arab Board of Psychiatry Exam was held in Amman, Jordan, on December 8-11, 2011, at the Al Rashid Hospital.

Dalsaev Moussa was born on January 9 in 1947. He joined school in 1959 and has finished his study with silver medal. In 1964 he had entered Northern Ossetian Medical University. During his study he had shown enormous interests in scientific research.

Pedro Ruiz, M.D., WPA President attended the 50th Annual Congress of the Colombian Psychiatric Association, held in Cartagena, Colombia...

"Mental Health in Jamaica: The Way Forward" was the theme of this year's Jamaica Psychiatric Association's Annual Conference organized by the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry (Section of Psychiatry), UWI, Mona.

In the first semester in 2011, the Indonesian Psychiatric Association (IPA) has held some meetings for developing and continuing medical education for psychiatrists in Indonesia.

There was a panel discussion on the mental health day theme “The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health- Making Mental Health, a Global Priority” in which Beena Bhasan, Fazal Mohammed, Rev AC Kurian and KM Abdulla presented papers.

"Dr. Ambi" as she is affectionately known to the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG), has laboured with determination in creating innovative methods in delivering quality Mental Health Services in our nation.

In conjunction with the 5th Symposium of Biological Psychiatry in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Konjic, "Garden City Hotel & Spa"), the 3rd General Assembly of the Psychiatric Association of Bosnia-Herzegovina (PABH) was held on 10 October 2011.

Organized by the Association for Biological Psychiatry / Psychopharmacology in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ABPPFBH) and the Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Center Sarajevo and co-organized by the Psychiatric Association of Bosnia-Herzegovina (PABH), the 5th Symposium of Biological Psychiatry/Psycopharmacology in Bosnia and Herzegovina was held on 10-11 October 2011 in Konjic ("Garden City Hotel & Spa").

The traditional Symposium Mostar’s Psychiatric Saturday was held this year for the eighth time. The theme of symposia “Ethics and Morality Disorders in a Modern Medicine and Society” brought together over 200 mental health (and related disciplines) professionals from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) regularly develops and updates position statements and issues media releases delineating policy on key topics to inform and influence mental health outcomes, and to enhance public perception and understanding of psychiatrists and psychiatric practice.

The Biological Psychiatry Interest Group of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) successfully hosted a Biological Psychiatry Congress in Stellenbosch on 22-24 September 2011.

The Guatemalan Psychiatric Association is made up of 60 specialists in psychiatry.  It holds monthly meetings where expository conferences aim to promote continued medical education for the specialists.

During its 2010 Congress, the German Association for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (DGPPN) held a special event to commemorate the victims of psychiatry under National Socialism.

The financing of somatic specialities has been increased by 10 % during the last decade in Denmark, while the financing of mental health has only been increased by 2 %, this despite the fact that the need for psychiatric treatment has not decreased, and that the treatment costs are more expensive.

The Bangladesh Association of Psychiatrists (BAP), an active WPA Member Society from the South Asian Region organised its 6th International Conference on 16-18 October 2011 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

News and activities from the Czech Psichiatric Association of the Czech Medical Association including activities in the website, regular monthly scientific workshops and organization of the Psychiatric Congress 2011.

The German Association for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (DGPPN) invites you to the upcoming DGPPN Congress 2011 from 23 to 26 November 2011 at the International Congress Center (ICC) in Berlin, Germany. The DGPPN congress is no longer just a national meeting place, but increasingly attracts international attention.

Determining the socio-demographic and clinical profile of psychiatric outpatients is crucial to identify the needs but also to optimize screening procedures.

Crises and Disasters occur very frequently in our world. Some of them are natural, others are human-made. 

As previously announced, the III Congress of Psychiatrists of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12-14 October 2012, as the first national congress of our Association after its reorganization in 2008...

Report on the WPA co-sponsored “1st International Congress of Early Career Psychiatrists” with the theme “Towards Professionalism in Psychiatry”, held in Cairo, Egypt on 9-11 January 2013...