Abstract
The Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists (PRCP) is an association of psychiatrists from countries bordering the Pacific. The College was formed in 1980 by a group of 56 psychiatrists from 10 countries — Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States — with a prominent role having been played in the establishment of the College by academic psychiatrists associated with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles. Though primarily formed by academic psychiatrists, it has membership open to psychiatrists in any area of practice. The membership of the College is mainly made up of psychiatrists from the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia each having a small number of members.
The purpose of the College is to provide a forum for communication between psychiatrists in the countries bordering the Pacific. This is particularly facilitated by a scientific meeting that has been held every two years since the inaugural meeting in Manila in 1980. Subsequent scientific meetings have been held in Taipei, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Fukuoka and San Diego. The most recent (October 1999) was held in Seoul, with approximately 450 delegates. The conferences provide an opportunity for the presentation of scientific papers, discussions on important issues in psychiatry, and consideration of the variety of clinical, social, political and ethical issues that tax psychiatrists in clinical practice, administration, teaching and research in the Pacific countries. An excellent example of discussion of very important issues was the symposium held in Seoul entitled ‘When the dream comes true: Study on the psychiatric aftermath of the reunification of Korea’. This fascinating and moving symposium highlighted the extensive, detailed and creative thinking that is occurring in South Korea in preparation for the reunification of North and South Korea, and the clear anticipation of the many social, economic and psychological difficulties that will accompany this long sought after event. It also illustrated the positive role that psychiatrists and psychiatry can play in matters of enormous societal importance.
PRCP scientific meetings are particularly well attended by psychiatrists from Japan, Taiwan, China and the USA, with a generally smaller representation of psychiatrists from ASEAN and other Asian countries. The organisation is highly respected in the region and many of the leaders in psychiatry in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong are Fellows of PRCP.
Linkages with Asian colleagues are becoming increasingly important to Australia and New Zealand given the rapid development of psychiatry in these countries. PRCP can become a very valuable forum for the establishment and enhancement of such linkages with our neighbours.
Although Australia had not previously played a prominent role in the organisation, in 1997 Professor Bruce Singh was appointed to the 11 member Board of Directors and at the meeting in Seoul, in 1999, was elected President-Elect of the organisation for the period October 2001–October 2003. Table 1 shows the current office bearers of PRCP and contact details.
Officers of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 1999–2001
During his presidency, Professor Singh will convene the 10th Scientific Meeting of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists to be held in Melbourne, 7–10 October 2001. Permission is being sought to run this meeting with the WPA as co-sponsor. The role of PRCP could well be complementary to the activities of the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Cooperation [1,2] convened by Bruce Singh and Harry Minas, in that both organisations focus on mental health in the Asia-Pacific region and are committed to dialogue and collaboration in pursuit of mental development in the region.
During the Board of Directors meeting in Seoul, it was also decided to move the secretariat from its current location in Los Angeles to an Asian country. Australia may play a constructive role in effecting and supporting this transition.
Australian and New Zealand Psychiatrists are invited to consider joining PRCP at a time of critical importance for psychiatry in our region. Membership is particularly commended to those who wish to be involved in future scientific meetings, and those who have a particular interest in actively developing the links between Australian and New Zealand and Asian psychiatrists. Fellows of the RANZCP who are interested in joining PRCP must be nominated by Fellows of PRCP.
Those requiring further information about the College can write to Professor Bruce Singh, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, 7th Floor, Charles Connibere Building, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia, or directly to the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90024-1759, USA.