Reducing Inequalities and Promoting Inclusion
to Improve Mental Health
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The 2025 4th Annual WPA Medical Student Essay Competition is
NOW OPEN
The WPA Medical Student Essay Competition
The World Psychiatric Association's flagship activity for Medical Students,
is a WPA Presidential initiative with the support of
the United Nations Secretariat – Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development Goals and the WPA Medical Students Special Interest Group.
We invite medical students from around the world to address the 2025 theme:
Reducing Inequalities and Promoting Inclusion to Improve Mental Health
Write and submit an essay of up to 3000 words proposing innovative and actionable suggestions for improving mental health and fostering mental well-being on a local, national, or global scale by reducing inequalities.
How can reducing disparities or promoting inclusion contribute to better mental health outcomes? Your essay should focus on concrete suggestions that align with the principles of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #10.
Essay Formatting and Submission Requirements:
Submission Deadline and Schedule:
All submissions must be made online via the submission portal before midnight on 30 April, 2025. We cannot accept any entries received after this date. The Winner will be announced by the 15th of June 2025.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global framework of 17 goals designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, addressing critical challenges such as poverty, health, education, and inequality by 2030. Goal #10, "Reducing Inequalities," is particularly important because it seeks to ensure that no one is left behind, promoting social, economic, and political inclusion regardless of age, gender, disability, race, or socioeconomic status. Please read more about the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development Goals and the SDGs here.
Prizes & Recognition:
Two Winners will each receive a Travel Award and Free Registration for the 2025 World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP 2025) in Prague (5-8 October). The Winners will be acknowledged at WCP 2025, and their winning essays will be translated into all six WHO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish). All Finalists and the full text of their essays will be showcased on the WPA website, spotlighting both the authors and their ideas.
Before submitting your entry below, please pay attention to the requirements outlined in this document.
Failure to comply with these requirements will lead to disqualification from the competition.