BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRSRoyal College of Psychiatrists, UKProf. Hamid GhodseDr. Afzal Javed

2. BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS The Board of International Affairs (BIA) was established in 2001 and its first meeting was held on 3rd December. The Board is currently chaired by Professor Hamid Ghodse.

3. BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS To map, co-ordinate, encourage and focus on current College international activities as a basis for appropriate expansion in the future. To support the international work of College members and mental health professionals.

4. BOARD OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS The Board of International Affairs (BIA) established special groups of overseas psychiatrists working in different parts of the world.

5. INTERNATIONAL GROUPS OF THE COLLEGE • One of the first undertakings of the Board was to set up College international groups in areas which had large numbers of College Members and Fellows, such as South Asia and Africa. • In 2002 and 2003 Council endorsed the establishment of the Pan-African and South Asian International Groups which brought the number of International Groups to four, all of them active at the College annual meetings as well as regional meetings including sessions at the APA and WPA meetings.

6. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE In April 2004 the Privy Council of the UK Government approved several amendments to the College Bye-laws. The amendment to Section XXIVB of the Bye-law stipulates that: “There may be such International Divisions, in areas outside the United Kingdom and outside Ireland, so constituted and with such organisation as may from time to time be prescribed by the Regulations, for the purpose of providing for discussion and exchange of information locally.”

7. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE Following this amendment the Board of International Affairs, in consultation with the College’s overseas Members, drew up the Regulations for International Divisions which were approved by Council in June 2004.

8. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE According to the Regulations, the geographical boundaries of International Divisions shall be largely, though not exclusively, based on the WHO regions. African European Middle Eastern Pan-American South Asian Western Pacific and each shall have an Executive Committee comprising an elected Chair, a Secretary and a Financial Officer.

9. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE Objectives of the Divisions

10. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE • To map, co-ordinate, encourage and focus on current College international activities as a basis for appropriate expansion in the future, in particular. • To provide administrative support to and represent International Divisions in College Council. • To support the international work of College members and officers.

11. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE To raise awareness of international psychiatry including, in particular • The awareness of international issues in mental health policy, care, treatment, rehabilitation, promotion and prevention • The awareness of the impact of globalisation especially in relation to the education, practice and employment of psychiatrists

12. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE To advise the College on international affairs, in particular • To highlight, review, encourage and determine approaches to developments of international significance which are pertinent to psychiatric training, clinical practice, service planning, policy and research • To support trainees and clinicians through collaboration in the development and implementation of curricula, conduct of examinations and CPD activities

13. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE To advise the College on international affairs, in particular • To support the formulation of policy on relevant issues • To facilitate international research collaboration • To support College Members working in other countries

14. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE To advise the College on international affairs, in particular To assist and facilitate international activities in the College, other Royal Colleges and national and international associations and organisations (e.g. British Council, EU, UEMS, WPA and WHO) through liaison and collaboration with a distinct focus on improving relationships with overseas member and non-member psychiatrists

16. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE • Functioning of the Divisions

17. INTERNATIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE • To support the international work of College • To support College members and fellows in their professional work • To map, co-ordinate, encourage and focus on current College international activities as a basis for appropriate expansion in the future, in particular

18. INTERNATIONAL SESSIONS AT ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE COLLEGE • International sessions at College annual meetings are one of the ‘standing items’ on the Board’s agenda. • Organised by College Overseas Groups (International Divisions from this year) and chaired by their respective chairpersons, they are always very successful and well attended

19. INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION • WORLD PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION • UNION OF EUROPEAN MEDICAL SPECIALISTS • AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION • SOUTH ASIAN FORUM ON MENTAL HEALTH • OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

20. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATESHIP An amendment to Section VII of the College Bye-laws and Regulations stipulates that: • Any two Members of the College may nominate for registration as an International Associate a qualified medical practitioner who is working outside the United Kingdom or Ireland in psychiatry (or its part-time equivalent). The Court of Electors shall consider all such applications annually.

21. INTERNATIONAL PSYCHIATRY BULLETIN • International Psychiatry, the bulletin of the Board of International Affairs has been established eighteen months ago

22. INTERNATIONAL PSYCHIATRY BULLETIN • To provide information on developments in psychiatry within the Royal College and at the Regional & International levels that will benefit the mental health of the population, which Members of the College serve. • To provide a profile of psychiatric practice around the world, advances and problems in relation to education, training, research and policies in different countries and a means of communication and networking for Members and organisations with similar interests and mandates as the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

23. SENIOR VOLUNTEERS PROGRAMME It seems the College can provide a vital link between those members in the UK who would be willing to offer help and those overseas members who need it. The idea for the project is that, the resources available in the UK can readily be utilised in low income countries where there is a great need for help in relation to curriculum development, teaching, examining, service development, clinical governance, administration, specific research, research training, etc.

24. SPECIAL GROUP FOR RELIEF WORK IN DISASTER The College with active help from BIA has established a special group looking at Tsunami relief work for • Co-ordination of activities • Planning training programmes • Helping local professionals in service provision

25. SUB-COMMITTEE ON IRAQ • The Board recognises the need to undertake action to help Iraqi colleagues, both in Iraq and in the UK, with their efforts to re-establish and develop mental health services in Iraq and to develop psychiatric training. There are several groups currently operating in the UK in this field and the Board believes the College’s role should be to facilitate and perhaps co-ordinate their activities.

26. CHINA TASK FORCE Director of International Affairs has been invited to join, on behalf of the College, the China Task Force set up by the Department of Health. The Task Force has met three times to date and established the following points: • Over the past two years the DoH / UKT&I has hosted eight visits from China • The Chinese delegates were particularly interested in 3 key areas: (1) model of primary care, (2) building programmes financed via PPP/PFI and (3) medical education and training programmes of the Royal Colleges. • China has been recognised within Government as being very important and a joint Anglo / Chinese task force led by the respective Deputy Prime Ministers had been created to develop partnerships in five priority sectors of which healthcare was one.

27. FUTURE • Opportunity to learn from other countries experiences of cultural differences, a variety of treatment approaches and so on. • The BIA is hoping to become involved not just with the English speaking Commonwealth countries, but increasingly with the countries in the European Economic Area, Latin America and elsewhere, to advocate actively equality of mental health worldwide. To achieve this, the support of all College Members and fellows is vital.

28. FUTURE • Continuing contribution to international education and training • Development of relationships with the people likely to become leaders of the discipline in different countries To achieve this, the support of all College Members and fellows is vital.

29. THNAKS