Dr Afzal Javed, Consultant Psychiatrist working with CWPT and also an honorary member of the Mental Health & Wellbeing unit, has become the new President Elect of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).

The WPA consists of 135 member societies, spanning 117 different countries and representing more than 200,000 psychiatrists. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the member society from the UK and Dr Javed’s election to the post has been supported and acknowledged as an achievement of his work with them.

He was first elected to one of six executive posts within the WPA back in 2011.

Dr Javed has been working in North Warwickshire for the last 22 years and has been actively involved with the Royal College of Psychiatrists as Associate Registrar and Chairman West Midlands Division. His clinical contribution to improve the local and regional services has always been acknowledged by the Partnership Trust and his colleagues, especially his work with cultural diversity groups and local patient and carer groups.

Dr Javed’s previous role in the WPA mainly related to supervising the scientific sections of WPA for their academic and other related educational, research and scientific work.

Dr Javed said “As president elect, I will work as Vice President of the WPA until I take over as the new President in 2020. My main tasks will include preparing policy guidelines, planning the WPA Action Plan and strengthening collaboration / links with member societies.”

“I will also support WPA initiatives especially related to developing partnerships with patient and carers organisations, promoting psychiatry as a future career for medical students and planning safe and accessible services specifically for low income countries.”