Australasian Psychiatry 23(3)

The WPA aims specifically to: •• promote the development and observance of the highest quality and ethical standards in psychiatric care, teaching and research; •• increase skills and knowledge about mental disorders and how they can be prevented and treated; •• disseminate knowledge about evidence-based therapies and values-based practice; •• increase skills and knowledge about mental health and how it can be promoted; •• advocate for the dignity and human rights of the patients and their families, and to uphold the rights of psychiatrists; •• facilitate communication and assistance, especially to societies that are isolated or whose members work in impoverished circumstances. The success of this work, especially the core work of improving the quality and ethical standards in the practice of psychiatry and the promotion of human rights worldwide, depends on successful collaborations. These are vital to the WPA as an agent for change. As President of the WPA, I will be working closely with the WPA member societies, including the RANZCP. The RANZCP is one of the major constituent societies of the WPA. The engagement of the College (and its fellows) with the WPA action plans can be expected to bring strong mutual benefits from exchange of ideas and common activities. I will also be working to foster good working relationships with the WHO, other United Nations (UN) agencies, non-government organizations such as the World Medical Association and World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), and regional and specialty groups in our profession. These collaborations are developed on the understanding that psychiatry is central to healthcare worldwide.4 It is important to keep in mind that the successful integration of psychiatry in healthcare has two preconditions. One is the development of best practices in working in partnership with consumers and family carers,5 as well as community and other professional groups. The other is the widespread understanding and adoption of early intervention in psychiatry, as in the broader practice of medicine.6 These developments depend on effective growth and dissemination of the clinical, humanitarian and scientific advances in modern psychiatry. In my time as President, the WPA will work with partners in an international drive to promote the central place of psychiatry in healthcare. It will do this by:

Podcast

1. continuing its pro-active support for and contribution to clinical excellence, education, research and publication in psychiatry: in primary healthcare, community mental health services, hospitals and private practice; 2. taking an international leadership role in supporting community mental healthcare,7 responding to people affected by adversity8 and promoting the human face of psychiatry; 3. forging and consolidating strong links between psychiatrists, community leaders, consumers and families, based on negotiation and mutual respect;5 4. engaging with member societies to facilitate the sharing of ideas, resources and experience; 5. taking a leadership position in promoting an appropriate gender balance in its work as well as the inclusion of people from all parts of the world.

Conclusions The mental health of people in Australia and New Zealand and in our region and beyond can be enhanced by strong partnerships between the RANZCP and WPA and its member societies. References 1. Maj M. From “madness” to “mental health problems”: reflections on the evolving target of psychiatry. World Psychiatr 2012; 11: 137–138. 2. Rosenberg SP and Hickie IB. Making activity-based funding work for mental health. Aust Health Rev 2013; 37: 277–280. 3. Psychiatrists RANZCP. Strategic Plan 20165–2017. Enhancing the mental health of our nations through leadership in high quality psychiatric care, 2015. 4. Herrman H. The central place of psychiatry in health care worldwide. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2014; 129: 401–403. 5. Wallcraft J, Amering M, Freidin J, et al. Partnerships for better mental health worldwide: WPA recommendations on best practices in working with service users and family carers. World Psychiatr 2011; 10: 229–236. 6. Herrman H. Early intervention as a priority for world psychiatry. Early Interven Psychiatr 2014; 8: 305–306. 7. Thornicroft G, Alem A, Antunes Dos Santos R, et al. WPA guidance on steps, obstacles and mistakes to avoid in the implementation of community mental health care. World Psychiatr 2010; 9: 67–77. 8. Tol WA, Barbui C and van Ommeren M. Management of acute stress, PTSD, and bereavement: WHO recommendations. JAMA 2013; 310: 477–8.

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An interview with Professor Herrman Andrew Amos  Psychiatric Registrar, Acute Care Team, Gold Coast Mental Health and Integrated Care, QLD, Australia

While international organizations such as the UN and the WHO are sometimes criticized when their lofty ambitions are imperfectly realized, projects like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a perfect illustration of the rapid progress that can be achieved

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Editorial

by the combination of idealism and accountability. Initiated in 2000 by an organ of the UN, the MDGs mobilized international resources to achieve eight goals by 2015, including the eradication of hunger and poverty, universal education and reducing child mortality. The central importance of mental health in the next phase of this movement is reflected in the emergence of the slogan “No health without mental health” in attempts to influence the Sustainable Development Goals that will replace the MDGs this year.

Professor Herrman argues that psychiatry need not be defensive, but can be confident enough to assert its central role within medical practice. She makes the important point that advocacy by patients, carers and broader social groups all have a part to play in guiding policy makers’ decisions about resource allocation, in Australia and New Zealand as well as the rest of the world.

In the June issue of the Australasian Psychiatry podcast, I interview Professor Helen Herrman, psychiatrist, public health physician and Professor of Psychiatry, about her election victory as President-elect of the World Psychiatric Association. Professor Herrman describes her vision of international cooperation to identify, develop and disseminate knowledge and resources appropriate for improving mental health among the diverse range of people and situations across the world. Professor Herrman is particularly optimistic about the interchange of ideas, acknowledging the growing importance of psychiatry as it is practiced outside western democracies, in places as diverse as the Pacific Island nations, China and India.

Continuing Professional Development In accordance with the RANZCP Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Guide, credit for listening to podcasts and completing related tests as CPD activities may be categorized as a self-guided learning activity under Section 4.4 Informal learning activities. Each hour of participation is awarded one credit. Please keep records of podcasts accessed via CPD Online and tests completed by downloading certificates of completion at the end of the podcast. In case of audit, please provide verification of podcasts accessed through CPD Online by downloading and supplying certificates of completion.

This podcast is available via the Australasian Psychiatry website (www.apy.sagepub.com) and the CPD online webpage of the RANZCP (www.ranzcp.org/Publications/RANZCP-CPD-Online.aspx).

Cover art

full of hope. Embrace life and achieve what you aspire to become’.

The cover image, entitled Agile, by Suzanne Donato comes from the Cunningham Dax Collection. The image has been chosen to reflect the hope that arises from reading the articles that describe innovative approaches to leadership and new treatments, and the inspiration that is provided by Prof. Herrman’s election to Presidency of the WPA, her Editorial and her podcast interview. Suzanne Donato describes her artwork as follows: ‘My mental illness has stopped me from achieving some of my life long dreams. Like having a child and working full time. I find I have to rest a lot and not get stressed. It is very hard for someone like me to just sit in front of the TV for hours on end. However, this painting is quick and full of movement like in most of my other works. They are active and

Australasian Psychiatry is proud to support the Cunningham Dax Collection and the many artists that contribute to the collection.

About the Cunningham Dax Collection The Cunningham Dax Collection, which is part of The Dax Centre, consists of over 15,000 artworks including works on paper, photography, paintings, textiles, sculpture, journals and digital media created by people with an experience of mental illness and/or psychological trauma. The Dax Centre is a not-for-profit organisation that relies on the generosity of the community to carry out its mission of promoting mental health and changing community attitudes by increasing empathy and understanding of mental illness, psychological trauma and the mind through art. For more information on the Cunningham Dax Collection and The Dax Centre, visit: www.daxcentre.org

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An interview with Professor Herrman.

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