Source description last updated: 19 January 2021

In brief: The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

BJPsych International (formerly: International Psychiatry)

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A–E (all available countries).

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

The RCPsych seeks “to secure the best outcomes for people with mental illness, learning difficulties and developmental disorders by promoting excellent mental health services, training outstanding psychiatrists, promoting quality and research, setting standards and being the voice of psychiatry.” (RCPsych website: What we do and how, undated)

Amongst others, “[t]he College publishes books, reports and educational material for professionals and the general public. It also publishes the British Journal of Psychiatry, BJPsych Open, BJPsych Bulletin, BJPsych Advances and BJPsych International, all of which are now available online.” (RCPsych website: Our mission, undated)

The journal “BJPsych International provides psychiatrists and all mental health professionals with an overview of current policy and practice in psychiatry from a global perspective. Our primary mission is to provide a publication platform for authors from low-and-middle-income countries.” (Cambridge University Press website: BJPsych International, undated)

“The journal is owned by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and published four times a year by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the College. The College grants editorial freedom and independence to the Editor-in-Chief of BJPsych International. [...] All BJPsych International articles are peer-reviewed. We regularly publish collections of papers focusing on a topical theme of clinical importance, as well as series on subjects of international significance. These include mental health policy, [...] delivery of services, and medical training. [...] The journal is Open Access and there are no charges for authors. [...] Both the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Cambridge University Press are not-for-profit organisations [...].” (Cambridge University Press website: About BJPsych International, undated)

Types of articles published in BJPsych International include Country Profiles, Mental Health Law Profiles, Thematic Papers and Special Papers (Cambridge University Press website: BJPsych International: Instructions for authors, undated).

Funding:

“The College’s main sources of income are membership fees and grants from or contracts with other organisations, in particular the NHS [National Health Service, UK]” (RCPsych: Annual Report and Financial Statements, 31 December 2020, p. 47). The total income for the RCPsych for 2020 was £18,222,000 (RCPsych: Annual Report and Financial Statements, 31 December 2020, pp. 45–47 and 61).

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: developing countries and emerging nations

Thematic focus: policy and promotion of mental health, administration of mental health services, psychiatry training and practice, substance use disorders, mental health information systems, mental health law, mental health of asylum-seekers

Methodology:

Country Profiles published in BJPsych International provide summarised information on policies, services, training and research relating to mental health in a specific country, while Mental Health Law Profiles “factually summarise national or regional mental health legislation, with a focus on recent developments” (Cambridge University Press: BJPsych International: Instructions for authors, undated). Articles appearing in BJPsych International are often written by two or more authors and include an abstract and a list of references (see, for example, Hasan, M.T. et al.: The current state of mental healthcare in Bangladesh: part 1 – an updated country profile, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18, no. 4, November 2021, pp. 78–82, Hapangama, A. and Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A.: Maternal mental health services in Sri Lanka: challenges and solutions, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18, no. 4, November 2021, pp. 100–102 and Khan, R. Q. and Khan, A.M.: Crime and punishment: Pakistan’s legal failure to account for mental illness, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18, no. 4., November 2021, pp. 94–96). Country Profiles, Mental Health Law Profiles and Thematic Papers are based on a review of public sources (see, for example, Hasan, M.T. et al.: The current state of mental healthcare in Bangladesh: part 1 – an updated country profile, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 78–82, Khan, R. Q. and Khan, A.M.: Crime and punishment: Pakistan’s legal failure to account for mental illness, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18, no. 4., November 2021, pp. 94–96 and Rina, K., Padhy, S.K., Chadda, R.K.: The Telepsychiatry Operational Guidelines 2020 in India: a welcome step, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18 no. 4, November 2021, pp. 1–3). Special Papers, meanwhile, may additionally draw on empirical research using quantitative surveys (see, for example, Mohsen, F. et al.: Psychological health problems among Syrians during war and the COVID-19 pandemic: national survey, in: BJPsych International, vol 18, no. 3, August 2021, pp. 1–4), interviews, focus groups, observation in the field, etc. (see, for example, Tabatabaee, M. et al.: Challenges of implementing psychiatric rehabilitation services: a low- and middle-income country case example, in: BJPsych International, vol. 18 no. 3, August 2021, pp. 1–3).

Language of publication:

English

 

All links accessed 19 January 2022.

Methodological note:

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