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Suicide is a major public health problem, with 817,000 cases worldwide in 2016. The incidence is highest in those aged 70 years or older, among both men and women, in almost all regions of the world1.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is developing the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11), whose publication is currently expected in the year 2015. The WPA is partnering with the WHO in the production of the chapter on mental and behavioural disorders. The principles guiding the development of that chapter have been summarized by the International Advisory Group for the Revision of ICD-10 Mental and Behavioural Disorders in a paper published in World Psychiatry in June 2011 1. That paper emphasizes that the chapter is being produced in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including WHO member countries, several professional groups, and users of mental health services and their families. Attention to the cultural framework is being a key element. The revision is seen as an opportunity to improve the classification's clinical utility, particularly in primary care settings and in low- and middle-income countries (see also2–3). The ICD-11 classification will remain based on descriptions of the prototypes of the various mental disorders rather than on operational diagnostic criteria. The advantages and possible limitations of this approach have been discussed in several World Psychiatry articles and commentaries (e.g.,4–11). A major argument in favour of this approach is that it is congruent with the spontaneous clinical process, which does not involve checking in a given patient whether each of a series of symptoms is present or not, but rather checking whether the characteristics of the patient match one of the templates of mental disorders that the clinician has built up in his/her mind through his/her training and clinical experience (see also12). Moreover, some recent research focusing on various classes of mental disorders (i.e., personality, eating, anxiety and mood disorders) suggests that a diagnostic system based on refined prototypes may be as reliable as one based on operational criteria, while being more user friendly and having greater clinical utility (e.g.,13–14). Eleven Working and Consultation Groups have been appointed by the WHO for the development of the ICD-11 chapter on mental and behavioural disorders. These groups include several WPA officers and experts among their chairpersons and members (see15–16). Several of these groups have recently published background papers or preliminary reports on their activities. Highlights of the expected convergences and divergences between the ICD-11 and DSM-5 approaches to the classification of mood disorders have been presented in several papers in various journals (e.g.,17–18) and in a supplement to World Psychiatry 19. Among the convergences are the inclusion of activation/energy as a defining symptom for mania, and the acknowledgement that a manic/hypomanic syndrome emerging during antidepressant treatment, and persisting beyond the physiological effect of that treatment, qualifies for the diagnosis of manic/hypomanic episode. Furthermore, the ICD-11, as the DSM-5, will allow the clinician to record the occurrence of a subsyndromal anxiety syndrome in a patient with a major depressive episode, by using a specifier. Bipolar II disorder is expected to be recognized as a distinct diagnostic entity in the ICD-11, while in ICD-10 it is just mentioned among “other bipolar affective disorders”. Expected divergences between the ICD-11 and the DSM-5 will include a different characterization of mixed states and schizoaffective disorders. Furthermore, the ICD-11 is going to exclude from the diagnosis of depressive episode, in line with the ICD-10 but differently from the DSM-5, “normal bereavement reactions appropriate to the culture of the individual concerned” (see20–26). Highlights of the expected convergences and divergences between the ICD-11 and the DSM-5 in the classification of stress-related disorders have been presented in a recent World Psychiatry paper 27. In the ICD-11, the proposed new grouping of “disorders specifically associated with stress” will include adjustment disorder (whose description will undergo a major revision, involving an increased specification of symptoms), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (whose diagnosis is going to be based on three well-identified core symptoms), and complex PTSD (a new category marked by disturbance in the domains of affect, self-concept and relational functioning in addition to the three core features of PTSD). Acute stress reaction will be conceptualized as a normal reaction and thus classified in the chapter corresponding to ICD-10 “Factors influencing health status and contact with services” (while “acute stress disorder” is still included in the section on trauma- and stress-related disorders in the DSM-5). Proposals for the ICD-11 section on feeding and eating disorders have been summarized in another World Psychiatry article 28. These include a broadening of the category of anorexia nervosa through dropping the requirement for amenorrhoea, extending the weight criterion to any significant underweight, and extending the cognitive criterion to include developmentally and culturally relevant presentations. Furthermore, a severity qualifier “with dangerously low body weight” is expected to distinguish the severe cases of anorexia nervosa that carry the riskiest prognosis. The bulimia nervosa category is likely to be extended to include subjective binge eating, and binge eating disorder will be included as a specific diagnostic category, in agreement with the DSM-5. The input of the ICD-11 Working Group on Intellectual Developmental Disorders has been presented in a paper published in World Psychiatry in 2011 29 and is further discussed in this issue of the journal 30. Intellectual developmental disorders (a term replacing “mental retardation”) are proposed to be defined as “a group of developmental conditions characterized by significant impairment of cognitive functions, which are associated with limitations of learning, adaptive behaviour and skills”. The Working Group further advised that intellectual developmental disorders be incorporated in the larger grouping of neurodevelopmental disorders, that current subcategories based on clinical severity be maintained, and that problem behaviours be described as associated features. The Chairman of the ICD-11 Working Group on Psychotic Disorders recently reported 31 about the expected convergences and divergences in the ICD-11 and DSM-5 approaches to the classification of those disorders. In the ICD-11, as in the DSM-5, Schneider's first-rank symptoms are going to be deemphasized in the description of schizophrenia, and the subtypes of the disorder are going to be omitted. These subtypes will be replaced by six symptom specifiers (positive symptoms, negative symptoms, depressive symptoms, manic symptoms, psychomotor symptoms, and cognitive impairment). Contrary to the DSM-5, the ICD-11 is expected to keep the one month duration criterion for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and not to include functional impairment as a mandatory criterion. Preliminary reports about the development of the ICD-11 sections on mental disorders in children and adolescents 32, somatic distress and dissociative disorders 33 and personality disorders 34 are also available in the recent literature. A more general discussion of diagnostic topics related to DSM-5 and ICD-11 classifications can be found in recent issues of World Psychiatry 35–45. Internet-based field testing of proposals for ICD-11 will be implemented through the Global Clinical Practice Network, currently consisting of more than 7,000 individual mental health and primary care practitioners (http://www.globalclinicalpractice.net).

The WPA Secretariat is located at the Geneva University Psychiatric Hospital, in splendid surroundings, in a campus full of beautiful trees and open spaces with lush greenery. It is the headquarters of the WPA. Ever since the establishment of the Association, the WPA Secretariat used to move with the incumbent office bearers. As the size of our office grew, the need for a permanent secretariat became increasingly evident. Besides administering the WPA, we needed a place to keep our valuable documents in safe custody. There were several reasons for which Geneva was chosen as the location of the Secretariat. It was the town where the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) were situated, and working in physical proximity and in collaboration with the WHO on mental health matters was an obvious advantage. But the most important factor was the offer from the Geneva University Hospital to provide free space and facilities to WPA for its Secretariat in their campus. In many ways, this can be considered as a gift to the psychiatrists of the world by that university. The permanent secretariat of WPA at Geneva came into being when an “accord of collaboration” between the WPA and the Geneva University Hospital was signed by M.B. Gruson (Director General of the hospital) and A. Okasha (WPA President) on September 6, 2004. This accord is valid for an initial period of 20 years and is subject to renewal thereafter. The WPA Secretariat provides the global link to 135 Member Societies and more than 200,000 members. Member Societies are the most important components of the WPA, and the Secretariat keeps them informed about the discussions and decisions of the Executive Committee, other Committees and the WPA General Assembly. Similarly, the Secretary General relates the opinions and concerns of the Member Societies to these bodies and conveys decisions and actions back to them. The Secretariat makes every effort to keep in constant touch with the Member Societies and provide information sought by them. It co-ordinates the admission process of Member Societies, Affiliated Associations and individual affiliated members. It gives logistical support to the WPA President and its leadership and makes arrangements for its business meetings. The WPA Secretary General is in charge of the WPA Secretariat and is responsible for the administrative tasks of the WPA. We have 18 Zonal Representatives who constitute the WPA Board. The Board advises the Executive Committee and the General Assembly on the work of the WPA and helps to strengthen collaboration between Member Societies and in the implementation of the WPA Action Plan. Through the Secretariat, the Secretary General co-ordinates the work of the Zonal Representatives and serves as a liaison between them and the WPA governing bodies. The services provided by the Secretariat include the following: WPA News. This is a quarterly publication with issues in March, June, September and December every year. It publishes news and photos received from the Member Societies, Executive Committee members, Zonal Representatives, Scientific Sections, Affiliated Associations, etc.. Other highlights are the message from the WPA President and an update on educational activities, WPA publications and forthcoming meetings. It is edited by the Secretary General, and digital copies and a limited number of print copies are sent to all Member Societies and office bearers. Directory of WPA components. This database includes all information including postal addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. of all WPA office bearers, Presidents and Secretaries of Member Societies. A printed copy is also made available during every triennium. WPA Library. This is located at the Secretariat in Geneva and has several new books and journals. Entrance to the library is unrestricted for the Member Societies and office bearers. WPA archives room. This is located at the basement of the Geneva University Hospital. We have space constraints, and efforts are now on towards e-archiving of important documents. WPA central files. These are maintained in the Secretariat in both digital and print formats. WPA information folders. They are edited and updated every three years for public relations and promotional activities. WPA general survey. This is prepared every triennium under the guidance of the Executive Committee and then distributed to all WPA components. It analyses the achievements and deficiencies and helps us to chart new directions. Manual of Procedures. This is updated every three years, reflecting changes in the Statutes and By-laws adopted at each General Assembly, and prescribes the mode of functioning of the Secretariat and the WPA components. Visitors. The Secretariat encourages visits by Member Societies and office bearers. Their impressions are recorded in a visitor’s diary kept in the office. The WPA Secretary General is the head of the Secretariat and is ably assisted by the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator. The Administrator is in charge of handling all activities related to staff, contacts with the Swiss authorities, attending WPA Executive Committee meetings and WPA General Assembly, liaison with the Geneva University Hospital, maintaining financial records, monitoring budgets for all Standing and Operational Committees, etc.. The Deputy Administrator handles correspondence with WPA components and replies to general inquiries and requests under the guidance of the Secretary General, updates the mailing lists, manages mass mailings of the WPA News, WPA Directory, etc.. Some tasks, such as electronic and hard copy filing and archiving, progressive organization of the materials in the archives room, are jointly performed by them. The Secretariat works towards achieving the aims, objectives and mission of the WPA and ensuring success of the Action Plan 2014-2017 (1). We are obliged to President D. Bhugra, President-Elect H. Herrman, the members of the Executive Committee, the Zonal Representatives and the Member Societies for their constant help and support. Making the Secretariat a global link for the psychiatrists of the world, responsive to their needs and aspirations, is our goal. We hope to work committedly towards this end!

Scientific Sections keep on having a prominent position in the working of WPA, especially for promoting and disseminating scientific knowledge around the globe. The current number of Sections has increased to 69, after the establishment of the new Section on HIV/AIDS Psychiatry, chaired by M.A. Cohen. WPA Sections enjoy a great degree of independence within the framework of the WPA Statutes and By-Laws (1,2). The Section work is supported by an Operational Committee headed by the Secretary for Sections. During the 2014 World Congress of Psychiatry in Madrid, Section officers attended a special meeting, during which reports were presented about the activities implemented during the triennium 2011-2014. The results of a WPA survey showed that the majority of Sections were fully functional during that period. Organizing sessions at WPA sponsored and co-sponsored meetings was found to be the most common activity (implemented by 88% of Sections). There was also a noticeable increase in the number of WPA co-sponsored meetings organized by individual Sections during 2011-2014. The number of such WPA co-sponsored meetings and conferences (either organized as an independent meeting and/or supported by one of the WPA Scientific Sections) reached a very high number (39 meetings compared to 17 meetings in the triennium 2008-2011). Within the World Congress, 65 symposia and 22 workshops were organized by Sections. Some Scientific Sections have produced position statements during the triennium (e.g., that on independent medical examinations by the Forensic Psychiatry Section), and others have developed training courses for residents (e.g., that developed by the Section on Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry). Several Sections also have officially linked international scientific journals. These include the Journal of Affective Disorders, Psychopathology, Academic Psychiatry, History of Psychiatry, Personality and Mental Health, the Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, the International Journal of Mental Health, the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, Activitas Nervosa Superior, Psychiatry in General Practice, Transcultural Psychiatry, and the Archives of Women’s Mental Health. The survey also revealed that WPA membership have considerable information on the activities of the WPA Scientific Sections, and 60% of the responding Member Societies rated the impact and visibility of these activities as “excellent” or “good”, while the quality of these activities was rated as “excellent” or “good” by 65% of the respondents. The WPA Action Plan for 2014-2017 (3) was also discussed during the Madrid meeting, with a special emphasis on Sections’ future role in developing the theme of promotion of mental health as a targeted action. Sections have indeed started planning various activities looking at a number of aspects of this particular area, with a main focus on producing educational leaflets for the general public, updating the WPA website, preparing slides and educational material for professionals, developing slides and educational material for medical students, providing suggestions for curriculum development for trainees in psychiatry, producing guidelines and consensus statements, organizing scientific sessions at WPA meetings, identifying themes for intersectional collaboration, implementing some joint intersectional projects, and strengthening links with other allied professional organizations. The Sections also keep on having their elections every three years, and it is heartening to note that most of them have elected new members on these positions. This will certainly help WPA in promotion of leadership and involvement of young psychiatrists in the working of the Association. There will be a prominent participation of Scientific Sections at the forthcoming WPA International Conference in Bucharest (June 2015). An Intersectional Forum is also planned there on the topic of old age psychiatry, and two intersectional educational teaching and training programmes will also take place. Section officers and members are also contributing extensively to the WPA official journal World Psychiatry (4–18). Their interest and participation in the development of the chapter on mental disorders of the ICD-11 is another ongoing contribution to the psychiatric field (19,20). It is expected that the enthusiasm of Scientific Sections for their WPA work will continue and will bring further contributions to the quality of scientific knowledge and the development of innovative approaches in psychiatric practice.