Congress 2024: building empathy and understanding

In her June blog post, Lade looks back at an exciting Congress which featured Dr Hilary Cass giving her first ever keynote. She also reflects on Pride month and the importance of continuing to celebrate and support our LGBTQ+ members, staff and patients.

It’s been a week since one of the best, if not the best, RCPsych International Congresses and stimulated by this year’s event, I have been reflecting on many things.

As well as its importance for the College more widely, it is undoubtedly one of the highlights in the calendar for me personally and especially so this year, the end of my first year as President. We all had the opportunity to share learning and best practice; catch up with colleagues old and new, and continue to highlight how psychiatry can substantially improve people’s lives.

This year we had almost 3,000 delegates, including many from overseas, who enjoyed a superb academic and entertainment programme that had something for everyone. Last year’s Congress was marvellous and I thought that it probably couldn’t get any better – shows that we shouldn’t limit our ambitions.

Edinburgh is always a fantastic host and it felt even more poignant this year as it coincided with the 30th anniversary of the RCPsych in Scotland. Their new tartan is beautiful. It was designed following a membership competition to mark three decades of the RCPsych in Scotland and was visible around the venue on banners and specially made lanyards. Those lanyards were much sought after – I think the RCPsych in Scotland staff made lots of new friends last week. The tartan is a wonderful celebration of Scottish culture as was the Ceilidh at the Congress party – sorry to those whose toes I danced on…

Talking about celebrating our diversity, as Congress also fell during Pride month this year, it gave us an extra chance to demonstrate the College commitment to improving health inequity for those from marginalised and underserved groups. In addition we continue to champion EDI, celebrating and supporting our LGBTQ+ members, staff and patients, not only in June – at Congress and with other activities – but throughout the year.

In the UK, 3.1% of the population identifies with the LGBTQ+ community. Evidence indicates that members of the LGBTQ+ community are more vulnerable to mental health problems and psychological distress when compared to the general population. Interpersonal and institutionalised discrimination and marginalisation are thought to be significant drivers of this – Ilan H Meyer (2003) coined the term 'minority stress' to explain how the chronic stressors and stigmatisation associated with being from a sexual and gender minority can increase the risk of mental illness.

While we recognise the progress there has been in society generally, which has been mirrored in the health service in terms of providing person-centred care, there is still much more we can do. This is especially true for the transgender population, who we know have a very high rate of co-existing mental illness – yet too many people do not get the person-centred care they require.

Much of the debate focuses on treatment in relation to their gender identity, as reflected in the coverage around the recently published Cass Report. We need to remember, however, that those who are gender questioning usually have wider health needs and should expect to receive care that addresses all their health needs effectively in the same way that we do for the rest of the population.

Where those wider needs relate to their mental health, as clinicians, we must acknowledge the challenges this group has in accessing mental health services and do all we can to provide tailored, person-centred, holistic care based on comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment with formulation.

We must be proactive in educating ourselves and others on trans issues and ensure we provide the same access to healthcare and support for all, regardless of their gender identity.

At the College’s Congress last week Dr Hilary Cass delivered her first ever keynote speech outlining the findings of her review. Later she joined a panel I chaired, about supporting patients who are questioning their gender and practical steps for psychiatrists, with Dr Sameera Jahagirdar, an anaesthetist and Expert by Experience and Dr Seena Praveen, Consultant CAMHS Psychiatrist, who specialises in caring for gender-questioning children. It was an excellent morning of learning and understanding. The compassion, balance and care for those who are questioning their gender emanated palpably from all three speakers. It was moving and galvanising. I would urge all to watch the session if you get the chance to do so.

As a College, we will look to continue these conversations, build our empathy and understanding and do what we can do to address the disparities some of our most vulnerable patients face.

For all those involved in Congress, as organisers, delegates, speakers or in any other capacity, I would like to pass on my sincere thanks on behalf of the Board and all our members for another amazing, successful event. Looking forward already to Wales in 2025.