Strengthening the functioning of WPA through its Secretariat

The WPA Secretariat has been most active in the current triennium (2017‐2020). The main focus has been to strengthen the functioning of the WPA to achieve its main objective to promote the advancement of psychiatry and mental health for all citizens of the world.

The WPA occupies a unique position and is regarded as the global parent organization in psychiatry. It has a formal relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO). The WPA Action Plan 2017‐20201, 2, 3 aimed to improve mental health for people across the globe through consultation, mental health promotion, and equitable access and quality of mental health care.

All these are facilitated and monitored through the WPA Secretariat4, 5, 6. This is located at the Geneva University Psychiatric Hospital, with which we have an “accord of collaboration” for 20 years, valid until 2024, subject to renewal thereafter. Here we focus on some of the main activities of the Secretariat during the triennium.

Member Societies constitute the backbone of the WPA. Our emphasis has been to partner and support these Societies in achieving our common goals through constant communication and fruitful interactions. Concerns of Societies have been brought to the attention of the President and the Executive Committee; they have been addressed properly and solutions found whenever possible.

The expansion of the WPA to hitherto unreached areas has been another priority. Four new Member Societies have been admitted on an ad‐hoc basis, pending their final approval by the next WPA General ‐Assembly. These are the Zimbabwe College of Psychiatrists and the Zambia Psychiatric Association (both in WPA Zone 14 ‐ Eastern and Southern Africa); the Association of Specialists Working in the Field of Mental Health ‐ Kazakhstan (in WPA Zone 10 ‐ Eastern Europe); and the Society of Psychiatrists, Narcologists, Psychotherapists and Clinical Psychologists of the Republic of Moldova (in WPA Zone 9 ‐ Central Europe). We have now a total of 144 Member Societies (including four ad‐hoc), which is at the top among all medical associations worldwide.

We have been supporting the work of the WPA Board, consisting of 18 Zonal Representatives from all regions of the world. The WPA Secretary General and the Secretariat maintain close liaison with this Board. The Zonal Representatives have the advantage of first‐hand knowledge of the happenings related to mental health in the countries under their jurisdiction. They in turn relate these concerns to the President and the Executive Committee through the Secretary General and the Secretariat, leading to timely action.

We have been facilitating the activities of the 70 WPA Scientific Sections, which since their inception have been WPA's scientific backbone, affording depth and continuity to our global Association ⁷ . These Sections cover practically every aspect of psychiatry, bringing together psychiatrists from across the world and their expertise in relevant disciplines. Their work is coordinated by the WPA Secretary for Sections, and the Secretariat provides all necessary logistical support.

The re‐designed WPA website (www.wpanet.org) is now more dynamic and interactive than ever ⁶ . It has gone live since May 2019 and has now a number of features that make it a tool which is useful and user friendly. The largest number of visitors to our site are seeking information on meetings and publications, especially World Psychiatry. The website provides the most up‐to‐date information on our finger tips. With the help of the WPA Secretary for Education, we are trying to ensure that all our educational resources are accessible via one central point ⁸ .

In the wake of the recent pandemic, we have created a section on COVID‐19 Mental Health Resources on our website. This provides resources from trusted partners, reputed journals, collaborative initiatives (webinars), and from WPA Sections and working groups.

We have been contributing to the refinement of WPA normative instruments in an orderly manner, for their review and approval by the proper WPA bodies. The new and revised Manual of Procedures, approved by the Executive Committee, has been made available.

Governance responsibility is entrusted with the Secretary General, who ensures that the Secretariat properly supports the work of the WPA and its Executive Committee. The Secretary General acts as the liaison between the WPA Board and Committees, and ensures that Member Societies are kept informed of any discussions and decisions. The Secretary General also seeks the advice of the WPA Council when appropriate.

Concerning administration, a new filing system has been put in place at the Secretariat, with two entries for WPA documents: one to be accessed by WPA components with appropriate password, and the other to be accessed by Secretariat staff. Other innovations have been the preparation and documentation of various policies approved by the Executive Committee, the creation of a WPA privacy policy, a new WPA logo, procedures for regional and thematic meetings, procedures for applying to WPA co‐sponsorships and continuing education credits, administrative support for the various Task Forces and Standing Committees, and maintenance of service during COVID‐19 lockdown.

F. Sotgiu was appointed as the Chief ‐Executive Officer in December 2017. Leading the work of the Secretariat, she liaises closely with the Executive Committee, in particular the Secretary General and the President, whilst also managing two administrative staff. She is responsible for all day‐to‐day activities of the Secretariat, including management of the Association's finances, legal and human resource requirements. Let me appreciate her excellent work for the WPA.

Thus, the WPA Secretariat has been performing its primary objective of strengthening the WPA, although working within administrative and financial constraints. This mission could not have been accomplished without the dynamic leadership of WPA President H. Herrman. We are also obliged to the WPA President‐Elect A. Javed, and the members the Executive Committee, Council and Board for their guidance. Above all, we thank the WPA Member Societies for their constant support and co‐operation. Together, and finding strength in our unity, the WPA will march ahead!