20 years of RCPsych in Wales
22 April, 2026
Over the celebration of its 20th year, RCPsych in Wales has established a strong identity focusing on community, culture and collaboration, marked by significant growth in membership engagement and professional influence.
The 20th year of RCPsych in Wales was launched as the College welcomed 3,000 members to its week-long International Congress in Newport. The artwork of Rhiannon Roberts symbolised the traditions and values of RCPsych in Wales, whilst Congress was a truly cultural festival, and celebration of International and Welsh Identity. Delegates leaving with an understanding of “Hiraeth, Cwtch, Cynefin, & Hwyl”.
The following are the key highlights from the 20th-year activity:
Community and Culture (Cynefin)
- High Engagement: We’ve achieved high levels of participation, with 40% of the Welsh membership attending Congress and over 80 abstracts from Wales being accepted.
- Public Mental Health: We’ve developed an award-winning public mental health programme that engages with the public through school debates, careers fairs, summer schools and eisteddfod’s - attracting a record number of entries.
- Creative Quarter: We’ve expanded our home in Cardiff that offers many benefits to staff and members, regularly hosting meetings and conferences.
Professional Support and Development (Cefnogi)
- Member Support: Through the "Cefnogi" (Support) initiative, We have provided over 200 bursaries to support conference attendance and launched a Legacy and Leadership programme.
- SAS Network: A dedicated network for Specialist, Associate Specialist, and Specialty (SAS) doctors was launched, with representatives now established in every health board.
- Credentialing and Mentoring: We’ve supported members through credentialing in specialized areas like eating disorders (ED) and perinatal psychiatry, as well as providing mentoring and research opportunities.
Collaboration and Policy (Trafod)
- Strategic Influence: We maintain a unique partnership with NHS Wales’ Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC), which informs national commissioning and strategy in alignment with the Welsh Government’s Mental Health Strategy.
- Senedd Recognition: A Senedd Perception Audit rated us as 4.7/5 (Excellent), significantly outperforming other health bodies in terms of how it is viewed by Senedd members.
- International Reach: We’ve fostered international collaborations, including dialogues with the Bombay Psychiatric Society and roundtables with the Government of Western Australia.
Academic and Research Excellence
- Scientific Contributions: We have seen the publication of 54 papers in peer-reviewed journals and more than 55 posters presented at national and international conferences.
- Discussion Forums: The "Trafod" (Discussion) sessions have become a staple, with over 13 sessions held to facilitate professional dialogue and inform policy.
The 20-year celebration of RCPsych in Wales was supported by the “Dyfodol” (Future) programme, whilst a legacy of the 20-year celebration is Dyfodol’s expansion and emergence.
The Dyfodol programme is now formally hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and run in partnership with RCPsych in Wales, and NHS Wales’ Joint Commissioning Committee. It provides invaluable insight, research and quality improvement opportunities for Welsh Government, NHS Wales, and other partners. The programme is led by clinicians, offering opportunities for personal development, and scaling solutions nationally.