Advancing global mental health through education

In 2024, the WPA launched Education and Psychiatry, an official e‐journal representing the organization's efforts to strengthen psychiatric education and promote global knowledge exchange. This initiative aligns with the strategic priorities outlined in the WPA Action Plan 2023‐2026 ¹ , ² , ³ , and is further supported by the WPA's Blueprint for Advancing Psychiatric Education and Scientific Publications ⁴ . The launch of Education and Psychiatry responds to pressing international needs: rising global mental health demands, critical shortages in the psychiatric workforce, and the call for accessible, culturally relevant, educational platforms.

Led by the WPA Committee on Education and Scientific Publications, Education and Psychiatry is a peer‐reviewed e‐journal dedicated to innovations in psychiatric education and international collaboration. Since the publication of its first issue in June 2024, the journal has attracted submissions from all continents, showcasing the diversity of psychiatric training systems, pedagogical and adult learning approaches, and professional challenges across the globe.

The journal is grounded in the belief that educational transformation is essential to addressing the global mental health workforce crisis – a priority highlighted in the WPA's strategic planning documents ¹ , ⁴ , and the WPA Global Study on Psychiatric Training ⁵ . It promotes scalable and equitable models of psychiatric education, especially encouraging contributions from under‐represented colleagues, including those in low‐ and middle‐income countries, where publishing remains more challenging ⁴ .

The scope of Education and Psychiatry encompasses diverse content types, including country reports, special issue interviews with global leaders, research updates, digital education innovations, and policy‐oriented perspectives. The journal highlights contributions across psychiatry subspecialties and educational methodologies, with thematic foci, such as artificial intelligence in psychiatric training and postgraduate curriculum reform.

Thematic issues have honoured prominent figures, such as Profs. N. Sartorius and A. Okasha, both of whom offered important historical reflections, insights into present‐day events, and visions for the future of psychiatry and mental health. These interviews were published in celebration of their 90th birthdays. The articles, released ahead of print, have already generated thousands of reactions and feedbacks on social media, reflecting strong global engagement with the journal's content.

Looking ahead, the editorial team is actively collaborating with the WPA Education Portal to enhance the journal's multimedia capacity and expand access to educational content globally ⁴ . The WPA Education Portal, a well‐established online platform, offers a wide range of freely accessible learning resources – including modular courses, webinars, clinical toolkits, and e‐handbooks – designed to support psychiatric education and professional development across diverse settings. It is currently undergoing comprehensive content and information technology upgrades to improve functionality, expand multilingual access, and deliver a more user‐friendly and efficient learning experience.

Education and Psychiatry is more than an e‐journal; it is a collaborative project that embodies the WPA's commitment to equity, innovation, and educational excellence in global mental health. As a collective platform for sharing expertise and fostering systemic change, it plays a vital role in shaping the future of psychiatric education worldwide.

We invite all WPA Member Societies, Scientific Sections, and professionals to contribute to and engage with this evolving community of learning.