RCPsych eNewsletter

November 2021

Welcome to our eNewsletter for members

In this issue we reveal our plans for next year's Congress and others going forward, discuss the impending completion of our refurbishment at Prescot Street, and restate our commitment to equality in the form of our new Equality Champions Network, which had its first meeting in October.

The latest from the Devolved Nations

Read the latest news and blog posts from Northern Ireland.

Read the latest news and blog posts from Scotland.

We held our Sustainability, Climate Change and Mental Health conference with the support of BJPsych Bulletin. The event was chaired by Delyth Jewell MS.

We also confirmed that we’ll be providing a secretariat for two Cross Party Groups in the Senedd, one on a Clean Air Act for Wales, and another on a newly formed group into Climate Change & Wellbeing.

Our members have provided several opinion pieces for the media recently, including Dr Dave Williams on the launch of Choose Psychiatry and Professor Alka Ahuja MBE on managing mental health throughout winter.

Other news from around the College

Free access to eBrain

Did you know you have access to the eBrain learning platform?

eBrain is a non-profit initiative brought to you by the Joint Neurosciences Council. It provides 650+ interactive, multimedia-rich lessons in 24 modules, such as Performing a Neuropsychiatric Examination and Principles of Developmental Neuropsychiatry in Children and Young People. The learning material on ebrain also includes question banks, virtual case reports, practice examinations, learning paths, and a bibliography.

The website has a new look and layout for 2021 plus a new podcast series.

To get access contact the College Library at infoservice@rcpsych.ac.uk.

The Psychiatrists' Support Service (PSS) provides free, rapid, high quality peer support by telephone to psychiatrists of all grades who may be experiencing personal or work-related difficulties.

Our service is totally confidential and delivered by trained Peer Support Psychiatrists (PSPs). Our PSPs are from diverse backgrounds and have received training in many different areas, to improve their understanding and ability to support all those who call the PSS.

As a service, we are aware that the difficulties faced by doctors vary enormously. We will support you through whatever they may be, including burnout, workplace bullying and discrimination, serious incidents, as well as coping with stress and change. Our support service manager and our PSPs will talk with you in confidence, without stigma or prejudice.

The service can be contacted by phone on 020 8618 4020 or by email at pss@rcpsych.ac.uk.

What did you think of the latest edition of RCPsych Insight? Email us your thoughts to magazine@rcpsych.ac.uk, or tweet us using the hashtag #RCPsychInsight.

The first of Getting It Right First Time’s (GIRFT) three mental health national reports – looking at adult crisis and acute services – is now published, presenting a review of how services are delivered and who is delivering them.

The report makes 17 recommendations, aiming to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of treatment in a timely way to avoid conditions becoming more chronic.

The report is available for everyone in the specialty to download. You will need to register, but permission is granted quickly and you will then have access to all future published GIRFT reports, including those for CYP mental health services and rehabilitation.

The RCPsych Medical Training Initiative (MTI) enables a limited number of International Psychiatry Graduates to experience training in the NHS for two years, before returning to their home country. Eligible doctors can fill vacant training posts, starting at CT3 level and moving to ST posts if the Employing Body and Doctor agree. MTI doctors are able to develop their knowledge and skills and provide a valuable contribution to the NHS workforce.

Applications for placements in August 2022 are now open and will close on 17 January 2022. Applications from Employing Bodies can be submitted until March 2022.

Read an update from NHS Dentistry by Sara Hurley and Tim Kendall, titled ‘Special focus: Dentistry and patients with mental illness'.