Abstract Body

The future of psychiatry as a discipline (and as the main source of knowledge in the construction and functioning o mental health services) can best be grasped on the basis of an examination of the development of psychiatry over the past century in the light of current options for its functioning. Such an examination demonstrates that psychiatrists will have to expand their field of work to include the management of comorbidity of mental and physical disorders and public health approaches to the primary prevention of mental and other brain disorders. Their engagement in research will have to become restricted to psychopathology and participation in the formulation of hypotheses which will be tested in laboratory and field work;; and their involvement in teaching about mental health and illness will have to undergo a fundamental change in terms of content, methods and evaluation of effects of education which they will organize. The presentation will focus on the future tasks of psychiatrists in these areas

Abstract Body

For a Mid-career Professor in Germany, there are defined clinical and teaching responsibilities. One can focus either on one’s research or on clinical work and teaching. When tasks are becoming more demanding or significant overarching decisions need to be taken, there is always a chairperson to be asked or to help delegate tasks.

As chairperson, one is mostly independent from other persons except for the dean of the medical faculty. One is however, at least in Germany, the chairpersons fully responsible for keeping up teaching, patient care, research as well as running the department. The Chairperson is measured by the achievements of these four tasks.

It need special attention to keep up a balanced time schedule to cover clinical care, research, teaching and departmental management.

A good chairs means working together with your staff on long-term goals, developing the department fruitfully and trying to fulfil these goals.

Abstract Body

In the last years several social, economic and scientific changes have occurred, which have had a significant impact on psychiatric clinical practice, research and training.

Some traditional syndromes seem to be disappeared, while new forms of mental health problems are coming to psychiatric consultation. The psychosocial distress caused by the current ongoing crisis due to the COVID-19 or the maladaptive use of the new technologies among the younger generation, are some good examples of psychosocial factors causing new mental health disturbances. Psychiatrists and mental health professionals are not yet well-equipped for managing these, which represent major unmet needs in modern clinical practice. Furthermore, in this evolving social context, the societal role of psychiatrists is completely changed, moving from being “alienist” working in asylums to “mental health care providers” working in the communities. The role of psychiatrists is to improve global mental health and to promote well-being in the general population according to a life-span perspective. Nowadays, early career psychiatrists report several unmet needs that we are not able to manage. In this symposium, I will describe my personal experience of moving from my role of mentee to mentor.

Abstract Body

People with psychosis are commonly socially isolated, both due to their condition, and the stigma towards them. Remote volunteering over smart-phone can be a way to overcome social isolation and physical distance, promoting social inclusion.

This talk will present the qualitative findings from a feasibility study – the Phone Pal – which connected in the United Kingdom patients with psychosis with community volunteers, to communicate with each other for up to 12 weeks via smart-phone (through texts, WhatsApp messages, e-mails, audio or video calls).

Participants described at the end of the study their experiences of communicating with their match over the smart-phone in terms of frequency, duration and timing of communication, their communication method, content and style, and the changes of communication over time. Several participants reported a positive impact of being connected with someone, meeting a new person, feeling supported and feeling better, and a few described challenges, such as disappointment, guilt and burden. These interview findings show that some matches were able to develop a positive and friendly relationship, and were willing to continue to be in contact with each other beyond the study duration.

It is hoped that this talk will generate a lively discussion, gathering further understanding about the potential benefits and challenges of remote volunteering over smart-phone for patients and volunteers, and its potential usefulness in the current pandemic times.