Pacific Rim
College of Psychiatrists
LEADERSHIP
MESSAGES
Dear Colleagues of PRCP,
First and foremost, I would like to share with you the exciting news that the 2025 PRCP Meeting will be successfully held, thanks to the meticulous preparations of Dr. Itsuo Asai and Tsuyoshi Akiyama. Moreover, the collaboration with the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry is sure to spark great interest among many mental health professionals.
Numerous programs have already been arranged, and there will be a wealth of engaging content, making it an exciting academic conference. I would like to express my gratitude to our Japanese colleagues for their efforts in organizing this event. Additionally,
Tokyo is a beautiful and vibrant city, full of attractions that make it a place you can visit over and over again. Beyond the conference, the 2025 PRCP will provide ample opportunities to explore and experience the city. Meeting old friends and making new connections in a fresh setting will undoubtedly further stimulate our academic interests.
Although there is still a long time until September 25, 2025, the thought of that day already fills me with anticipation. I look forward to meeting you all, greeting new colleagues, catching up with old friends, and engaging in meaningful academic exchanges. These interactions will not only deepen our scholarly insights but will also foster personal growth, broadening our perspectives.
The world today is fraught with global conflicts and wars that leave us worried, disoriented, and often saddened. It is heartbreaking to witness the persistence of such turmoil. However, throughout human history, darkness has often coexisted with the emergence of new hope and joy. Even after the sun sets, it rises again the next day, and despite storms and tempests, peace and calm will eventually return. People may pass away, but new life continues to be born, a beautiful reminder that nothing in this world remains still.
On a personal note, South Korea has recently endured an unimaginable crisis in its healthcare system over the past year. The pain and sorrow brought on by political populism have disrupted the medical system. However, I believe this too shall pass. While it is a source of personal shame, I would like to share this painful experience with my PRCP colleagues, discuss potential solutions, and exchange our individual circumstances. Medical students are still unable to attend classes, and it is uncertain whether new students will even be admitted. The chaos in the educational system when new students do arrive is unimaginable at this point. Interns and residents are also unable to join hospitals and are engaged in a battle against government policies. Senior colleagues are providing financial and emotional support to them, but it is a situation that brings much sadness. South Korea's medical education system is currently in deep turmoil, but I remain hopeful that, with time, dawn will break, bringing brighter days ahead.
Dear PRCP colleagues, I hope to share these experiences with you in a more uplifting and constructive manner when we meet in Tokyo in September 2025. There is an old saying that one should not send letters written at night, but I have intentionally written this letter late in the evening to reach out to you. I may feel embarrassed later, but my desire to connect with you all more closely has motivated me to do so. I look forward to seeing you in Tokyo on September 25, 2025.
Yong Chon Park, M.D., Ph.D.
PRCP President
Professor
Department of Neuropsychiatry
College of Medicine, Hanyang University
PAST MESSAGES
It is therefore relevant to highlight our official journal, Asia Pacific Psychiatry (APPSY), which is emerging as one of the leading international psychiatric journal focused on the Asia and Pacific Rim region, in sharing research and evidence in mental health. I hope to see many more psychiatry and mental health colleagues submit articles and reviews, as well as clinically and educationally focused papers on current best practices.
The PRCP has recently delivered a successful and wonderful congress in Seoul this year. The PRCP Board of Directors are presently working on the next PRCP Congress to develop a high quality scientific program.
Chee Ng
President PRCP
Healthscope Chair, and Professor of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
Director International Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
I am deeply honoured to serve as President of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists (PRCP) and welcome you all to be involved in the activties of the College. I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessors to advance the development of psychiatry and promote greater professional collaboration in the Pacific Rim Region.
PRCP continues to play a leadership role in enhancing the the field of mental health care and development in the region, through academic exchange, mental health education and research. Such endeavours are crucial as we presently continue to face global challenges with regards to health, diversity and equality issues.