LAUSR

The WPA Action Plan 2017-2020 has been released by H. Herrman, new WPA President, during the recent World Congress of Psychiatry in Berlin. An agreement that could assist in achieving the objectives of that Action Plan in an African context has been produced during the WPA-World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Mental Health Forum meeting that took place in November 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa. In particular, the agreement can be helpful with regard to the Action Plan’s enabling activities, aimed at supporting psychiatrists to promote mental health and improve care capacity, and its partnership and collaboration activities, aimed to expand the reach and effectiveness of partnerships with service providers, service beneficiaries and policy makers. The Forum, co-chaired by D. Bhugra (WPA Immediate Past-President) and S. Saxena (Director of WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse), was opened by M. Moeti, WHO Director for the African Region. The following recommendations were made by the four panels (1. Leadership and governance; 2. Health and social services; 3. Prevention and promotion; 4. Information, evidence and research):