Working together to lead the EPA to further growth

17 September 2019 -The past four months have seen intense activity of the EPA Board, Committees, NPAs, Sections and Members; and in parallel of the EPA staff from Strasbourg and Brussels offices. Building on the many successes of past presidents, we made significant progress towards achieving the planned strategic objectives. Allow me to just name a few priorities and related projects:

1. “Sharing knowledge and setting quality standards in mental health in Europe”:
– Mapping of the “Geography of Mental Health Care in Europe” is progressing rapidly (Meryam Schouler-Ocak and Mari Fresu, supervised by Peter Falkaï).
– A strategic Working Group will soon be launched to work on an “EPA Label for National Quality Care” for harmonising the needed care in all European countries (Silvana Galderisi and other EPA Board members).

2. “Advancing European training to create a European identity for mental health providers”:
– Increasing the number of participants in the “Gaining Experience Programme” (Mariana Pinto da Costa, supervised by Geert Dom and supported by other EPA Board members who provide placements in their departments/countries).

3.  “Becoming a key player in the European scenario of mental health care”:
– Developing joint projects with key stake holders such as GAMIAN, EUFAMI, EAN (European Academy of Neurology), EFPA (European Federation of Psychologists Associations), and others (Agata Szulc, Tamás Kurimay, Hilkka Kärkkäinen, Miia Männikkö).
– Delivering key messages to the public and to policy makers: EPA statement for “World Suicide Prevention Day” (10 September) (Diego Palao and Marco Sarchiapone) and EPA contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on “Horizon Europe” stressing the need to increase the EU budget dedicated to mental health research.

Furthermore, the EPA 2020 Scientific Programme Committee, Julio Bobes and Diego Palao, congress leaders, and the EPA administrative office continue to do a fantastic job in finalising the congress programme to make it a great success celebrating the remarkable heritage of European psychiatry.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all the Board members, now acting as “ministers” in charge of a specific portfolio, and to the Strasbourg and Brussels offices providing key support to all these projects.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your continued involvement. It allows the EPA to look forward confidently to the future!