ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS
Last update of this source description: 30 June 2008, current as at 18 October 2011.
Mission/Mandate:
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.” It “promotes mental health by setting standards and promoting excellence in mental health care, improving understanding through research and education, leading, representing, training and supporting psychiatrists, and working with patients, carers and their organisation.“ (RCPsych Website, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/whatwedo.aspx, accessed on 7 June 2008).
“The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been in existence in some form since 1841. First as the ‘Association of Medical Officers of Asylums and Hospitals for the Insane’ (later changed to the Medico Psychological Association) then, in 1926 receiving its Royal Charter to become the "Royal Medico Psychological Association, and finally, in 1971 receiving a Supplemental Charter to become the "Royal College of Psychiatrists" we know today.” (ibid)
Its headquarters are based in London.
Target group:
Members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, mental health professionals, service providers and health service managers, as well as general public.
Objective:
The Board of International Affairs aims “to raise awareness of international psychiatry“; “to map, co-ordinate, encourage and focus on current College international activities“; “to advise the College on international affairs”; and “to support College members working in other countries“ (RCPsych Website, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/BIA%20Remit.pdf, accessed on 7 June 2008).
The Board’s bulletin International Psychiatry intends “to provide useful information and links in global mental health” in order to “have a better understanding of other cultures and the relationship between culture, mental health and psychiatric disorder.” International Psychiatry “serves as a platform for authors from low- and middle-income countries“ (RCPsych Website, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/journals/ipinfo1.aspx, accessed on 7 June 2008).
Funding:
Incoming resources from generated funds include donations and gifts as well as investment income and bank interest. Incoming resources from charitable activities include research, education, training, subscriptions, member services and support, college campaign and public education, Central College development, publications and journals, examinations, etc (Royal College of Psychiatrists: Annual Review 2007, Statement of financial activities, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/annual%20review2007%20for%20website.pdf , accessed on 30 June 2008; Royal College of Psychiatrists: Annual Review 2006, Statement of financial activities, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/annual%20review2006.pdf , accessed on 30 June 2008).
College research projects and academic activities are supported by: Big Lottery Fund; Department of Health; Gatsby Foundation; Health Foundation; Healthcare Commission; National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; Eli Lilly; and The Charitable Monies Allocation Committee of St Andrew’s Hospital, Northampton (ibid, Supporters).
Scope of Reporting:
Geographic focus: Most countries worldwide.
Thematic scope: Country profiles contain “summary information on mental health policy, services, training and research in a specific country”.
Thematic papers provide information on selected topics, such as suicides; women’s mental health in the context of violence, exploitation and oppression; traditional medicines in psychiatry; cultural variations in the perception of psychopathology; trauma and the mental health of children; terrorism; etc (RCPsych Website, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/journals/ipinfo1.aspx, accessed on 8 June 2008).
Reporting methodology:
The Board of International Affairs’ Bulletin International Psychiatry (IP) “provides an overview of current policy and practice in psychiatry in different countries and will help all mental health professionals to learn about and keep abreast of what is happening elsewhere” (RCPsych Website, http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/journals/ipinfo1.aspx, accessed on 8 June 2008).
The authors of the papers and articles of IP are members of the Board of International Affairs as well as mental health professionals from various institutes, psychiatric clinics and hospitals, universities (professors of psychiatry), organisations (such as WHO), etc.
“All articles submitted as ‘special papers’ are peer-reviewed.” (ibid)
The Board of International Affairs collaborates with other organisations and associations, such as WHO, World Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, and others.
Publication cycle:
IP is published quarterly. Please note that since April 2006 IP is not available free-of-charge; in order to obtain recent IP journals you need to subscribe.
Language:
English.
Navigation of website:
Home > Publications > Journals > choose International Psychiatry, then click on: Archive of IP issues to download.
Additional references:
