President World Psychiatric Association (WPA)
Past President Asian Federation of Psychiatric Association (AFPA)

I am pleased to send this message of greetings to AFPA and share my appreciation for the successful activities of AFPA during the last years. AFPA, being an important component of WPA, has actively promoted the cause of psychiatry and highlighted its importance across the Asian countries.

Psychiatry is currently facing several challenges, and although our profession may be seen as being under threat, there are many opportunities that can help us consolidate psychiatry as an inspiring branch of medicine. AFPA, being the representative organization for psychiatrists from Asian countries thus has a major responsibility for leading the profession. This leadership is seen through full participation from our membership and engagement of our professional colleagues. We are grateful to AFPA office bearers and the Board for their continuous support and guidance for improving mental health services in Asian countries.

Due to Covid Pandemic, AFPA has to restrict its activities mostly virtual. But similarly, the 2022 AFPA congress held in Hyderabad, India was a real success with a number of countries represented in the congress. Thanks to Prof Prasad Rao, President AFPA and his team for organising this memorable congress.

AFPA’s network continues with completing REAP studies and Prof Shinfuku and his team deserves special thanks for their hard work. Prof Winston Shen’s work for AFPA Bulletin is extremely important and helping our membership to get updated account of our activities.

AFPA has been very helpful to World Psychiatric Association and other international organisations with collaboration and joint working. AFPA was visible having special sessions in WPA congresses and meetings where international leaders were joining hands to promoting mental health across the globe.

It is also gratifying to note that the AFPA membership is adding a lot of value to its work around Asian countries. AFPA’s main work include looking at emerging needs and priorities from a global perspective. Looking at the global situation, only a minority of people with mental disorder receive any treatment. There is an outstanding need to improve access to high quality mental health care in our countries and to support psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in their important roles as policy makers, direct service providers, trainers and supporters of health care workers in primary and community health care systems. AFPA therefore continues working:

• To promote psychiatry as a medical specialty in clinical, academic and research areas and to promote public mental health as a guiding principle.
• To highlight the specific role of psychiatrists in working with other professionals in health, public health, legal and social aspects of care
• To ensure our positive engagement with member societies and other mental health professionals and general health care workers

It is hoped that the 2023 will generate interest among all our membership to develop guidelines and directions for future work and seek higher mental health services from relevant sources. AFPA is optimistic that it will receive support, active input, and advice from our membership in setting these priorities and making a real difference in mental health.

Dr Afzal Javed