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Tokyo launch: Landmark Asia-Pacific project

The Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project Summary Report was launched regionally at the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists Conference in Tokyo in October, 2008.

 

The Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project (APCMHD) Summary Report  is the result of a long-standing collaboration between AAMH and the mental health leadership of 14 countries across the region including: Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The publication documents each participating country's/region's development of community mental health services as well as country-specific examples of best practice.

 

The regional launch was well-attended and included the following guest speakers: Prof. Norman Sartorius; Prof. Alan Tasman; Prof. Fumitaka Noda and Dr Benedetto Saraceno. All of the speakers indicated the immense value of the project in inspiring and illustrating regional best practice in community mental health.  View the invitation to the regional launch here. Prior to the regional launch, a global launch was held at the World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague in September 2008. View the invitation to the global launch here. 

 

At the most recent APCMHD Project Meeting held in Prague (in conjunction with the World Congress of Psychiatry), future directions for this landmark project were decided. The important role of the project in inspiring culturally sensitive models of community mental health appropriate for the region was well-recognised.  As a result, it was agreed that the Summary Report would become a living document with each participating country/region contributing an annual update about their community mental health services and different examples of best practice. Countries/regions involved in the project agreed to continue meeting annually to share ideas, progress and challenges in developing community mental health services. Funding to translate the existing Summary Report is also being investigated.

 

The publication of the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project Summary Report was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

 

For further information or to download the Summary Report, visit the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project page.

 

Benedetto Saraceno speaking at the PRCP launch of the APCMHD Summary Report

 

Above: Dr Benedetto Saraceno, Director, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO (Geneva) speaking at the PRCP Launch of the Asia-Pacific Community Mental Health Development Project Summary Report in Tokyo in October 2008.