Nikolay Neznanov

Dear colleagues,

In most countries, mental disorders are a major public health challenge, as evidenced by their prevalence and the resulting burden of disease and disability. It is no coincidence that the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 adopted by the World Health Assembly has, at its core, the principle that there is no health without mental health Promoting mental health, preventing and treating mental disorders are essential prerequisites for protecting and improving the quality of human life, well-being and productivity, and thus contributing to the
strength and resilience of society as a whole in the face of external negative impacts.

Virtually all economically developed countries went through a large-scale reform of psychiatric care, which began in the second half of the 20th century and included the deinstitutionalization involving the closure or reduction of large psychiatric hospitals, establishment of alternative service providers and the development of community-based psychiatry.

In the early 20th century, Russian psychiatry developed not only as a clinical field, but also as a social activity. Its foundations were laid by leading Russian psychiatrists, such as Sergei Korsakov, Nikolay Bazhenov, Vladimir Yakovenko, and Pyotr Kashchenko. In their efforts to organize the psychiatric care and develop the prevention and rehabilitation measures, they considered the role of social impacts on mental health. A progressive idea at that time was the establishment of psychoneurological dispensary a fundamentally new form of outpatient care, which has since gained wide recognition and development. The goal of such dispensary center was not only to provide dynamic outpatient observation and treatment of the mentally ill, but also to help them in coping with their social problems. Later, our country pioneered another organizational form of mental health care, which largely determined the further direction of world social psychiatry. This was the establishment of semi-inpatient care units, which spawned a wide network of facilities involving various forms of outpatient care.

Today, in addition to traditional problems, the outpatient mental health institutions have to deal with new challenges ranging from integration with the primary care network, mental health education, psychological counseling, psychotherapeutic assistance to intensive outpatient care, and social and labor rehabilitation. The discussion of these issues requires priority attention by both clinicians and mental health care providers.

I invite you to take part in the International Conference "Centenary of Community-Based Psychiatry: Landmarks and Perspectives" that will be held on May 16-18, 2019 in Moscow under the auspices of the World Psychiatric Association and the Russian Society of Psychiatrists.

Professor Nikolay Neznanov
President of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists

George Kostyuk

Dear colleagues!

I would like to invite you to take part in the international conference “Centenary of community based psychiatry: landmarks and perspectives” that will be held 16.05.2019 – 18.05.2019 in Moscow.

According to WHO European Mental Health Action Plan (2013 – 2020), all countries in the European region have committed their strategies towards supporting the shift from institutional psychiatry to community-based mental health care. Many countries have developed a network of local, community-based mental health services, which serve the specific needs of their respective population sector. The role of community-based psychiatry is prevention, treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation of people with mental health problems. However, the process of developing community- based mental health care is challenging, therefore, the exchange of ideas and experiences might be helpful in achieving these goals.

Russian psychiatry developed simultaneously in both institutional and community-based directions. The first community-based mental health services in Moscow were organized in 1919. In 2019, we will commemorate the centenary of community-based psychiatry. The conference can serve as a ground for sharing experiences and for finding solutions towards achieving our goal of improving care for our patients.

Looking forward to seeing you in Moscow!

    Professor George Kostyuk

Chief Psychiatrist of Moscow Health Department

Helen Herrman

Dear colleagues,

The World Psychiatric Association is proud to co-sponsor the International Congress, “Centenary of Community-Based Psychiatry: Landmarks and perspectives”. I am delighted to contribute a word of welcome to those attending, who are fortunate indeed because of the quality of the program and the warmth of welcome planned.

An array of distinguished international and national speakers will assemble in Moscow, home of a historic base for community-based psychiatry. There are beneficial lessons for global psychiatry from the experience of communitybased psychiatry in Russia from the early 20th Century to this day. The Conference marks the occasion of the centenary of community-based psychiatry in Russia with an excellent scientific program and emphasises the opportunity to share with international colleagues information about successes and challenges in service development.

I wish you a very successful and enjoyable experience at the Congress

Professor Helen Herrman
President, World Psychiatric Association