image by: World Psychiatric Association

HWN Suggests

Working to improve global mental health

Mental health is a vital part of our constitution as human beings, yet anyone, anywhere, can experience mental distress at some point in their lives, irrespective of colour, creed or culture.

From symptoms of anxiety and depression to debilitating conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, poor mental health is one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide. Responsibility for helping to improve people’s wellbeing lies with governments and it is a bleak reality that some countries have no mental health policy or legislation at all.

The mental health treatment gap must be addressed globally

Lack of knowledge,…

read full article

Resources

 Working to improve global mental health

There are large disparities in how governments around the world address mental health services, but a number of initiatives are prompting conversations and raising public awareness.

National Association of Practising Psychiatrists

NAPP is dedicated to the maintenance of quality mental health care for all, and has a proud history of advocating for sensible policy formation.

Society of Biological Psychiatry

The Society of Biological Psychiatry was founded in l945 to encourage the study of the biological causes of and treatments for psychiatric disorders. Its continuing purpose is to promote excellence in scientific research and education in fields that investigate the nature, causes, mechanisms, and treatments of disorders of thought, emotion, or behavior.

Society of Clinical Psychiatrists

Almost half a century ago, at a time of great change, the Society was founded by a small group of psychiatrists led by Dr. R. Crockett and Dr. J. Hutchinson with the aim of promoting the interest and practice of clinical psychiatrists and supporting the introduction of humane, modern and innovative approaches to the treatment and care of patients.

The Art of Psychiatry

The Art of Psychiatry society has been formed to explore the shared elements between the arts and psychiatry. Many psychiatrists, including trainees, have a strong interest in the creative arts and this informs their practice. Both psychiatrists and creative artists are concerned with exploring human behaviour and motivation, and come to the subject of the mental disorder from different viewpoints and with different narratives.

World Psychiatric Association

The WPA is an association of national psychiatric societies aimed to increase knowledge and skills necessary for work in the field of mental health and the care for the mentally ill.

Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry

The Academy of Organizational and Occupational Psychiatry promotes the application of psychiatric principles and practices in the workplace to improve leadership, group interaction and employee health and performance.

Association for Psychological Science

The Association's mission is to promote, protect, and advance the interests of scientifically oriented psychology in research, application, teaching, and the improvement of human welfare.

Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry

The Association for the Advancement of Philosophy and Psychiatry (AAPP) was establlished in 1989 to promote cross-disciplinary research, educational initiatives, and graduate training programs in philosophy and psychiatry. Philosophical methods bring to psychiatry a kind of analysis and critique that are invaluable in their clarity of thought, meaning, and application to practice

Association of Directors of Medical Student Educators in Psychiatry

ADMSEP was formed in 1975 when a small group of psychiatric educators met in Chicago. The organization has grown to over 160 members.

Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists

We are a community of psychiatrists that educates and advocates on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender mental health issues.

Association of Medicine and Psychiatry

The Association of Medicine and Psychiatry was founded in 1991 by primary care physicians and psychiatrists interested in improving the health of patients with concurrent physical and psychiatric issues.

Association of Women Psychiatrists

Our mission is to mobilize women psychiatrists to work together for quality mental health care of all persons, particularly women. AWP promotes inclusive leadership, professional development, and networking among women psychiatrists. AWP advocates for women psychiatrists and patients alike, through supporting mental health: research, education, and clinical care, informed by gender.

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research.

College of Mental Health Pharmacy

The College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP) has the overall objective of advancing education and research in the practice of mental health pharmacy. Although mainly aimed at pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, anybody can register to be an associate member of the CMHP, enjoying access to education and networking opportunities such as e groups, bulletins and the annual conference.

Healthy Minds Canada Fund

In 2017, Healthy Minds Canada merged into Jack.org and started the Healthy Minds Canada fund, supporting Jack.org's efforts towards ongoing community mental health education across Canada.

International Society for Sports Psychiatry

The ISSP was founded in 1994 to advance the specialty of Sports Psychiatry. Membership is open internationally to psychiatrists and other clinicians interested in the field.

International Society of Psychiatric Genetics

The International Society of Psychiatric Genetics is a world wide organization that strives for the highest ethical standards in genetic research and the application of findings from genetic research in clinical psychiatric practice.

International Society of Psychiatric- Mental Health Nurses

The Mission of ISPN is to unite and strengthen the presence and the voice of specialty psychiatric-mental health nursing while influencing health care policy to promote equitable, evidence-based and effective treatment and care for individuals, families and communities.

KCL PsychSoc

Promoting psychiatry as a career to medical students, supporting those wishing to pursue psychiatry and raising the profile of mental health issues.

Mental Health America

Mental Health America is dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental and substance use conditions and achieving victory over mental illnesses and addictions through advocacy, education, research and service.

Mental Health Europe

There is no Health without Mental Health! Mental health is an essential part of any citizen's health and well being. As such, it is an essential component of communities. Good mental health is a basic human right. Factors that adversely affect mental health represent a major and growing threat to economic, social and public health in the world.

Mental Health Foundation

We are committed to reducing the suffering caused by mental ill health and to help everyone lead mentally healthier lives. We help people to survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada

Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) is a national, not for profit, consumer driven, voluntary health charity committed to ensuring that the voices of consumers, family members and caregivers are heard on issues relating to mental health and mental illness; and in particular with regard to depression, bipolar illness and other associated mood disorders.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need.

National Association for Behavioral Healthcare

NABH advocates for behavioral healthcare and represents provider systems that are committed to the delivery of responsive, accountable, and clinically effective prevention, treatment and care for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with mental and substance use disorders.

National Center for PTSD

The National Center for PTSD aims to advance the clinical care and social welfare of U.S. Veterans through research, education and training on PTSD and stress-related disorders.

The International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health

Dedicated to supporting research and assistance surrounding prenatal & postpartum mental health for mothers, fathers and their babies. The principal aim of the Society is to promote, facilitate and communicate about research into all aspects of the mental health of women, their infants and partners around the time of childbirth. This involves a broad range of research activities ranging from basic science through to health services research.

Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link

APRIL is a charity seeking to create awareness that many every day medicines and anaesthetics can induce psychiatric adverse reactions (ADRs) or withdrawal effects including depression, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, self harm, suicidal thoughts and actions, or violence towards others.

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry

AAAP is an international professional membership organization founded in 1985 with approximately 1,000 members in the United States and around the world.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

The AACAP is the leading national professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders.

American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists

The organization was created to provide a forum to share information for psychiatrists engaged in direct patient care; and to keep abreast of the latest scientific developments relevant to the practice of psychiatry.

American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

AAPL (pronounced "apple") is an organization of psychiatrists dedicated to excellence in practice, teaching, and research in forensic psychiatry. Founded in 1969, AAPL currently has more than 1,500 members in North America and around the world. The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law promotes scientific and educational activities in forensic psychiatry by facilitating the exchange of ideas and practical clinical experience through publications and regularly scheduled national and regional meetings.

American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry

The American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry is dedicated to providing psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychiatrists with a forum for exchanging ideas, a paradigm for leadership in advocating for psychoanalytic principles in psychiatry, and a voice for promoting psychodynamic understanding in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients in medical education and residency training as well as within the American Psychiatric Association.

American Association for Emergency Psychiatry

American Association for Emergency Psychiatry or AAEP is a multidisciplinary organization that serves as the voice of emergency mental health. The membership includes directors of psychiatric emergency services, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, physician assistants, educators and other professionals involved in emergency psychiatry.

American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation was established by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry to raise awareness of psychiatric and mental health disorders affecting the elderly.

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

AAMFT is the professional association for the field of marriage and family therapy. We represent the professional interests of more than 25,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada and abroad.

American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry

Welcome to the web site of the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry. Our organization represents the leaders of departments of psychiatry in all of the medical schools in the United States and Canada. As such, we are committed to promoting excellence in psychiatric education, research, and clinical care.

American Association of Community Psychiatrists

Advocates for quality psychiatric care in community settings. The mission of the AACP is to encourage, equip, and empower community and public psychiatrists to develop and implement policies and high-quality practices that promote individual, family and community resilience and recovery.

American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training

To better meet the nation’s mental healthcare needs, the mission of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training is to promote excellence in the education and training of future psychiatrists.

American Association of Psychiatric Administrators

The American Association of Psychiatric Administrators (AAPA), established in 1961, is the premiere educational, networking, and support resource for psychiatrists interested in administration and management. The AAPA promotes medical leadership and medical excellence in behavioral healthcare systems, including services for mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities.

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

The mission of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. is to serve the public interest and the professions of psychiatry and neurology by promoting excellence in practice through certification and maintenance of certification processes.

American College of Forensic Psychiatry

The College is an association of psychiatrists and attorneys and other concerned scholars who have a common interest in the interface of psychiatry and law, with particular focus on forensic skills in their practice. Members frequently serve the needs of the civil and criminal courts as experts by interviewing and evaluating plaintiffs and defendants, and by rendering medical opinion to judges and juries.

American College of Neuropsychopharmacology

The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), founded in 1961, is the nation's premier professional society in brain, behavior, and psychopharmacology research. The field of neuropsychopharmacology involves the evaluation of the effects of natural and synthetic compounds upon the brain, mind, and human behavior.

American College of Psychiatrists

Founded on May 8, 1963, in St. Louis, Mo., The American College of Psychiatrists (The College) is a not-for-profit honorary association dedicated to providing continuing education to its Members, promoting the latest advances in the specialty, and supporting the highest standards in psychiatry.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.

American Mental Health Counselors Association

The only organization working exclusively for the mental health counseling profession.

American Neuropsychiatric Association

The American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA), established in 1988, is a non-profit organization of professionals in neuropsychiatry, behavioral neurology, neuropsychology and the clinical neurosciences. ANPA has over 700 members from around the world.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association is an organization of psychiatrists working together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorders, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders.

American Psychiatric Foundation

At the American Psychiatric Foundation (APF), our mission is "advancing mental health, overcoming mental illness, and eliminating stigma".

American Psychiatric Nurses Association

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) was founded in 1986. In the ensuing 25 years, APNA has grown to be the largest professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health (PMH) nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. - See more at: http://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3277#sthash.KJBSKLjs.dpuf

American Psychoanalytic Association

The American Psychoanalytic Association, valuing the development and complexity of the mind and human relationships, seeks to advance clinical, scholarly, scientific and social progress.

American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

The American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry has served the psychiatric profession since 1967. Focusing on teen, adolescence, and young adult issues, ASAP acts both as a professional network for its members and a specialized community dedicated to education development and advocacy of adolescents and the adolescent psychiatric field.

Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research

The Australasian Society for Psychiatric Research (ASPR) is a national peak body for psychiatric and mental health research in Australia and New Zealand. It includes researchers from a range of disciplines (including psychiatrists, psychologists, statisticians, epidemiologists, neuroscientists, geneticists, social scientists, mental health nurses, health economists) and provides them with an opportunity to come together to report on their most recent work, to stay abreast of developments in their own and related fields, to strengthen old collaborations and to develop new ones.

Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology And Law

Established in the late 70's, the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology And Law (Inc) is committed to exploring the relationship between psychiatry, psychology and the law.

Australian Psychological Society

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) is the largest professional association for psychologists in Australia. The APS is committed to advancing psychology as a discipline and profession. It spreads the message that psychologists make a difference to peoples’ lives, through improving scientific knowledge and community wellbeing.

British Association for Psychopharmacology

The BAP was founded in 1974, with the general intention of bringing together those from clinical and experimental disciplines as well as members of the pharmaceutical industry involved in the study of psychopharmacology. To this end the Association arranges scientific meetings, fosters research and teaching, encourages publication of results of research and provides guidance and information to the public on matters relevant to psychopharmacology, where appropriate...

British Neuropsychiatry Association

The British NeuroPsychiatry Association (BNPA) was founded in 1987 and is the leading academic and professional body for medical practitioners and professionals allied to medicine in the UK working at the interface of the clinical and cognitive neurosciences and psychiatry.

British Psychological Society

Psychology is the scientific study of people, the mind and behaviour. The British Psychological Society is the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK. We are responsible for the development, promotion and application of psychology for the public good.

British Society for Mental Health and Deafness

The British Society for Mental Health and Deafness (BSMHD) is the leading UK charity for the promotion of the positive mental health of deaf people in the UK. Mental health includes healthy emotional, psychological and social development, the prevention and treatment of mental illness and other disorders. BSMHD focuses on those whose first or preferred language is sign language. Additionally BSMHD is interested in the mental health of all deaf people, whatever the age of onset or degree of deafness.

Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry

The Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry is a national organization of psychiatrists dedicated to promoting mental health in the Canadian elderly population through the clinical, educational and research activities of its members.

Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health

The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) is a non-profit organization comprised of health care providers as well as organizations which represent individuals with lived experience of mental illness.

Canadian Mental Health Association

As a nation-wide, voluntary organization, the Canadian Mental Health Association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness. The CMHA accomplishes this mission through advocacy, education, research and service.

Canadian Psychiatric Association

As the national voice of Canadian psychiatrists, the Canadian Psychiatric Association advocates for the professional needs of its members and promotes excellence in education, research, and clinical practice.

Canadian Psychological Association

The CPA was organized in 1939 and incorporated under the Canada Corporations Act, Part II, in May 1950. Its objectives are: -To improve the health and welfare of all Canadians; -To promote excellence and innovation in psychological research, education, and practice; -To promote the advancement, development, dissemination, and application of psychological knowledge; and -To provide high-quality services to members.

Canadian Union of Professional Psychotherapists

The Mission of the Canadian Union of Professional Psychotherapists is to help Canadians live a drug-free healthier lives.

European Association of Geriatric Psychiatry

1971 the EAGP was founded as an informal association of psychiatrists, neurologists, neuropathologists, psychologists and sociologists from various European Countries with a special interest in the field of geriatric psychiatry.

European Brain Council

The EBC is determined to eliminate the discrepancy between the huge impact of brain diseases and the implications of understanding normal brain function on the one hand, and the modest financial and time resources allocated to brain research, teaching and the care of brain diseases on the other.

European College of Neuropsychopharmacology

The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) is a pan-European scientific association founded in 1987 to encourage innovative research across the neurosciences and to translate new knowledge on fundamental disease mechanisms into new medicines and clinical applications.

European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees

The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) is an independent federation of psychiatric trainees associations. The EFPT is officially recognized by the European Board of Psychiatry and European Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The Federation will serve psychiatric trainees in all branches of psychiatry all over Europe.

European Psychiatric Association

The mission of EPA is to improve Psychiatry and Mental Health Care in Europe. EPA is the most visible psychiatric association in Europe, basing its growth on the development of collaborative projects with other major psychiatric organisations, such as the European College of Neuro-Psychopharmacology (ECNP), the German Research Network on Schizophrenia (ECSR), the International Society of Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, the European Brain Council (EBC) and the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS).

European Psychiatric Nurses

European Psychiatric Nurses, is an organisation representing psychiatric and mental health nursing organisations within Europe. In co-operation with other organisations, projects and individuals, Horatio is an active partner in discussions that influence European mental health issues with particular reference to the viewpoint of nurses.

European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry

The European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry is a scientific society, legally established 1993 in Vienna under Austrian Law, aiming primarily to provide a forum for European physicians and psychologists working in the field of psychodermatology, psychosomatic dermatology, and dermatopsychiatry, to foster exchange of information and ideas and, more generally, contacts among professionals in the field, to improve the quality of scientific research in the area, and to recruit new members providing important expertise.

Malaysian Psychiatric Association

Malaysia may not have fully solved all our problems in mental health and care of the mentally ill, but it may surprise many in the profession that there are dozens of countries whose mental health staff have even less expertise than us. In the past several years, doctors, psychiatrists and nurses from several neighbouring and distant countries, like Pakistan, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Laos, Cambodia, PNG and Mongolia have spent days, weeks and months or even years learning from our experience in mental health.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is responsible for training, educating and representing psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand.

Royal College of Psychiatrists

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

South African Society of Psychiatrists

The aims of the Society are to promote, maintain and protect the honour and interests of the discipline of Psychiatry as a medical profession, and to serve the community.

Welsh Psychiatric Society

WPS aims -To promote all cultural and scientific aspects of psychiatry in Wales -To provide a social and professional network for psychiatrists and all other interested individuals within Wales -To provide a independent forum for psychiatry in Wales -To promote links with colleagues in other Celtic countries and to consolidate our special relationship with Brittany