Global population ageing with the associated increase in age-related mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and dementia pose a significant challenge worldwide.
The International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) is the only interdisciplinary and international organisation dedicated to this task.
The mission of IPA is to improve the mental health of older people everywhere through education, research, professional development, advocacy, health promotion, and service development. IPA's vision is better mental health for older people worldwide through its member geriatric psychiatrists, geriatricians, neurologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, primary care physicians and occupational therapists.
Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty is co-director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing and Montefiore Chair of Healthy Brain Ageing at University of New South Wales. After two years as President-Elect, he became President of the International Psychogeriatric Association at its biannual Congress in Seoul on 4th October 2013. His goals over his two year term centre on membership and impact.
"I would like to increase the reach of IPA to professionals globally" he said, "with special emphasis on those in low and middle income countries where mental health services in general and those for older people in particular are underdeveloped". Professor Brodaty emphasised the importance of educational programs for health professionals and the opportunities for internet based programs.
The picture shows Professor Brodaty accepting the Presidency from outgoing President, Professor Jacobo Mintzer from Charleston, South Carolina (via Argentina and Israel) at the IPA Congress in Seoul.
