I am thrilled to be appointed as the president of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology as of June 2023. It is a great honor to be able to lead the Society, which has grown to approximately 20,000 members. As DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) is recognized as a difficult but attainable goal for society as a whole, our Society faces a variety of challenges. Large organizations tend to be rigid and take a long time in their decision-making process. Following the principles and vital activities of the former President Ichiro Kusumi, I intend to smoothly transition into the next generation by promoting prompt decision-making and ease of regulations. Specifically, I will address the following issues, take appropriate actions, and strive for the development of the Society. I would appreciate any feedback and requests you may have.
We reaffirm that psychiatric care is dedicated for individuals with mental illness, and strive to promote secure, high-quality psychiatric care and welfare to meet the needs of our patients. We also recognize the discriminatory nature that is embedded in the history of psychiatry, and will issue statements as necessary. While promoting the use of advanced technologies in psychiatry, such as the use of AI and IT, telemedicine, and neuromodulation, it is also imperative to ensure that a framework for the appropriate and ethical use of these technologies is in place.
Currently, research findings of our members are disseminated in three academic journals and are highly regarded internationally. We will further improve the system to help sustain and develop this research capacity. In addition, we will develop the infrastructure to conduct various studies and diversify our research portfolio led by our Society.
We strive to develop a psychiatric specialist training system that is well-balanced and easy to navigate for the public, and to promote the training of high-quality specialists. We will support training programs and aim to improve the number of individuals completing the specialist program and passing the examinations. We will also improve both graduate and post-graduate education by publishing textbooks designed for specialists and enhancing e-learning contents.
It is important to actively and promptly express our opinions to the public and authorities, especially on ethical and social issues, while exchanging our views with the largest organization in the field of psychiatry: the Committee of Seven Psychiatric Representatives and Legislation. We will also work closely with subspecialty societies to provide necessary information to our members.
We strive to make our Society a place where members with diverse backgrounds (gender, age, institutional affiliation, nationality, etc.) can collaborate with each other in a constructive manner and make significant contributions. It is imperative to promote smooth and progressive transitions from the old to the new generation. We will ensure that our members are well-informed of the outcomes of the Board of Directors meetings and the Society's activities regularly and in a way that is easy to understand.
Masaru Mimura
The Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology
