Help us gather a snapshot of psychiatry in 2026

In 2026, we are marking 100 years since we were awarded a Royal Charter - one way we are celebrating is to undertake this special project capturing a picture of psychiatry and mental health care in the current day.

Background

For background on this exciting project, please read our recent blog posts on the subject:

Get involved

As part of the College’s celebration of 100 years since receiving its Royal Charter, we would like to record a snapshot of what psychiatry is like in 2026. To do this, we need your help!

Society generally excels at recording the decisions of institutions and the lives of famous people. It is less successful at capturing the lives of ordinary people, particularly those quietly getting on with rather extraordinary roles, like psychiatrists. We know the minutiae of Freud’s life but not so much about those of contemporary doctors treating people with mental disorders on a daily basis.

Mass observation projects aim to rectify this and record the kind of information otherwise skipped over. The original Mass Observation project began in 1937 and was resurrected in 1981 by the University of Sussex. It has recorded people’s unfiltered feelings on events and topics including: the abdication of Edward VIII, sexual behaviour, and the Blitz.

The College would like to create an archive of your experiences on our Royal Charter centenary, 13 March 2026. We know it can be difficult to set aside time, so please feel free to write about, or otherwise record, any day that week (9-13 March).

Journal entries, selfies, vlogs and other submissions are all welcome.

We know our members do amazing work, often in difficult circumstances, and we want future generations to know that too.

Share your submission (between 9-13 March 2026)

 

With thanks to Dr Harriet Stewart, Dr Claire Hilton, Dr Graham Ash, and the History of Psychiatry Special Interest Group (HoPSIG) for their invaluable help with this project.