Commenting on the publication of the Government's new mental health strategy, No Health Without Mental Health, Professor Dinesh Bhugra, said: "We welcome the new strategy and the commitment the government has shown both to public mental health and to quality services for mental health patients. It is vital at a time of austerity for the NHS that mental and physical health care receive equal resources – particularly as mental health problems tend to be more widespread in times of economic hardship."

College supports decision to end disqualification of MPs with mental illness

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced that the Government will repeal Section 141 of the Mental Health Act - a law which forces an MP to stand down from their seat if they are sectioned for more than six months. Commenting on the decision, Professor Dinesh Bhugra said: "We are absolutely delighted that the Government has decided to scrap this out-dated and discriminatory law. The College, together with other mental health charities, has campaigned long and hard for change.”

The Centre for Mental Health, Rethink and the Royal College of Psychiatrists have published a briefing paper Diversion: the business case for action which makes the economic case for the importance of diversion. This approach seeks to ensure that people with mental health problems who come into contact with the police and courts are identified and directed towards appropriate mental health care, particularly as an alternative to imprisonment.

The Department of Work and Pensions wants to replace the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It states that PIP will maintain the key principles of DLA as a benefit that contributes to the additional costs incurred by disabled people. The College has concerns about the potential impact of these reforms on people with mental health problems and has issued a joint response with the Centre for Mental Health, Mind, Rethink, Scottish Association for Mental Health and Hafal. 

New position: Associate-Registrar for Recruitment

Psychiatry is an exciting and rewarding career, yet the specialty is struggling to recruit a sufficient number of enthusiastic and able young doctors. The College intends to appoint an Associate-Registrar for Recruitment to provide leadership to increase recruitment into psychiatry. The key responsibilities of this post will be to:

• develop and implement a strategy to increase recruitment into psychiatry
• chair and develop the College Recruitment Committee
• provide a focus of expertise on recruitment issues in psychiatry
• develop a network of role models and speakers to help support University psychiatry societies.

The post-holder will be a member of the College Council and be in a position to influence wider College policies. We estimate that the post will involve one session a week. The Associate-Registrar will report directly to the Registrar and have a term of office of 5 years. Members interested in applying should send a covering letter outlining why the post is of interest as well as areas of expertise, together with a brief CV, to Deborah Hart by 21 April 2011. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview in early May 2011.

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment: Trainee Editor

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment is looking for an enthusiastic Trainee Editor who will have the opportunity to commission papers, obtain peer review assessments and, in collaboration with the editorial team, make decisions about publication. The Trainee Editor will undertake a project of their own which will involve a piece of research or audit, commissioning a series of articles or contributing their own original work. The position is for 1 year and precise details of the level of involvement and amount of time spent in the role will be negotiated with the successful candidate. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the editorial office, outlining any relevant experience, your reasons for applying and details of any project you would undertake. Deadline for applications: 1 April 2011.

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment: Vacancies for 2 new Editorial Board members

Editorial Board members will be required to take a proactive approach to the development of the journal including the contribution of ideas, promoting the journal, introducing new contacts and submitting papers for publication. Members are also required to participate in Editorial Board meetings, either in person or by teleconference, which take place in London three times a year. Please submit a CV and covering letter to the editorial office, outlining any relevant experience and your reasons for applying. Deadline for applications: 1 April 2011. Please refer to ‘The role of the board member’ before submitting your application.

The Health Select Committee has published its report on the Revalidation of Doctors, to which the College submitted evidence, and additional written evidence. Professor Peter Furness, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Revalidation Lead says: “The Academy welcomes the report ... as a sensible and proportionate evaluation of the problems currently facing the establishment of medical revalidation in the UK. The Academy and its constituent Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties are committed to working to resolve the problems and difficulties that remain with the other organisations who are involved in delivering revalidation.”

We would like to bring your attention to the new Prizes and Bursaries leaflet for 2011. Have you thought about applying for the numerous Faculty, Section and Divisional Prizes? And what about the prestigious College Prizes including the Morris Markowe Public Education Prize? Deadline for submissions for this Prize: 1 May 2011.

The closing date for entries for the RCPsych Awards 2011 has been extended to 9 March 2011. These Awards are your opportunity to nominate those outstanding teams and individuals who are making a real difference to mental health services.

Congratulations to Dr Gianetta Rands, who has won the RCPsych Grand Designs Competition. Gianetta has won £200-worth of RCPsych Publications.

• Mental Health Outcome Measures (3rd edn) – edited by Graham Thornicroft and Michele Tansella: this updated edition guides you through the minefield of outcome measurement, while putting a new emphasis on positive outcomes and recovery, and the central role of the service user's experience.
• Abuse of the Doctor-Patient Relationship - edited by Fiona Subotsky, Susan Bewley and Michael Crowe: the doctor-patient relationship is fraught with risk and this practical guide addresses this, to help clinicians in their daily relationships with patients, and to improve patient safety.
• Depression in Adults with a Chronic Physical Health Problem: The NICE Guideline on Treatment and Management