World Psychiatric Association

World Psychiatric Association (WPA) is an international umbrella organization of national psychiatric societies. It was founded in 1950 and aims to increase knowledge and skills necessary for work in the field of mental health and the care for the mentally ill. Its member societies are presently 118, spanning 120 different countries and representing more than 200,000 psychiatrists.

History[edit | edit source]

The World Psychiatric Association was established as the Association of Psychiatric Societies on 18th July 1950 in Paris, France. The name was changed to World Psychiatric Association in 1961. The association has been instrumental in setting global standards in psychiatry and has had a significant impact on the practice of psychiatry in cultures all over the world.

Objectives[edit | edit source]

The main objectives of the WPA include the promotion of the advancement of psychiatry and mental health for all peoples of the world. It also aims to ensure the highest possible standards in clinical practice, to promote research and to provide a platform for communication among psychiatrists worldwide.

Structure[edit | edit source]

The WPA is governed by a General Assembly and an Executive Committee. The General Assembly is composed of representatives from all member societies, while the Executive Committee includes the President, the Secretary-General, the Treasurer and six elected members.

Activities[edit | edit source]

The WPA organizes the World Congress of Psychiatry every three years. It also publishes the World Psychiatry, a leading journal in the field of psychiatry. The WPA collaborates with national and international organizations to promote mental health services, training, research, and policies worldwide.

Criticism[edit | edit source]

The WPA has faced criticism for its handling of controversies within the psychiatric community, including the debate over the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder in the 1970s and the ongoing debate over the validity of certain psychiatric diagnoses.

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