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WELCOME ADDRESS
Welcome address
Mental health as a global challenge
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Mental illness is one of the greatest challenges facing
societies worldwide. It affects a huge proportion of the
world's population – at least 600 million people live
with a mental illness and at least an equal number
who are their carers suffer with them. Mental illnesses
have significant socioeconomic consequences and are
among the most important causes of disability.
During the XVII World Congress of Psychiatry lead-
ing experts from all over the world will present new
knowledge about the prevention, diagnosis and treat-
ment of mental illness and discuss new solutions for
patient care. The various event formats of the World
Congress – lectures, symposia, discussion forums and
courses – will allow the presentation and debate of new
and controversial findings that stem from clinical prac-
tice, neurobiology, pharmacology, psychotherapy and
social psychiatry. For example, one of the leading age
researchers, Andreas Kruse from Heidelberg enriches
the programme with his impressive expertise on ethi-
cal and social issues of aging and age. Peter Falkai, Co-
Chair of the Scientific Committee and leading expert
in the field of psychotic disorders, will talk about state-
of-the-art and further directions of non-pharmacologi-
cal interventions in schizophrenia and Andreas Heinz,
renowned expert in psychopathology, will provide his
detailed knowledge. The Austrian social psychiatrist
Michaela Amering a leader in the development of the
worldwide service users movement will talk about the
“recovery-concept”. People with mental illnesses and
their relatives will further enhance the programme and
allow us to benefit from their experiences and know-
ledge. Numerous sessions with service users and fam-
ily carers emphasise the importance of involving all
parties and aim at promoting communication and net-
working. Peter Lehmann from Berlin for example will
give a lecture about the reduction of life expectancy
among psychiatric patients. Beside that there will be a
special programme focus for young professionals and
a wide range of sessions offering films and readings
dealing with different perspectives on mental health.
The WPA XVII WORLD CONGRESS OF PSYCHIATRY
2017 BERLIN is an exceptional opportunity for inter-
national and interdisciplinary contacts and for gaining
new impulses for work in the service of the people with
mental illness, for education about psychiatry and for
new research initiatives.
We look forward to welcoming you in Berlin!
Local Organising Committee of the WPA XVII WORLD
CONGRESS OF PSYCHIATRY
Andreas Heinz, Isabella Heuser, Arno Deister,
Peter Falkai, Wolfgang Gaebel, Iris Hauth,
Fritz Hohagen, Norman Sartorius