Undergraduate education — the WPA core curriculum

Abstract

The prospects of the future of psychiatry give us a major trend that seems to be paramount to all others: openness. This is to say openness to other health workers, and to all those concerned, such as decision makers, users and relatives, and to the community at large. The key concept in this openness is communication in order to share knowledge and attitudes. This is the exact essence of what education is for each and every one, as psychiatry and mental health have to be taught and explained relentlessly. The role of education is not a one way process; it is not only the phenomenon of teaching, but also the one of learning from those with whom the teaching relationship is established: undergraduates, postgraduates, general practitioners (GPs), non-psychiatric specialists, allied organizations (users, families, etc.) and the community. The sharing of knowledge and skills in the framework of openness and education are hence key factors in the development of psychiatry in the future. As for any other specialty, when psychiatry is well taught, not only is it useful in the daily practice of each doctor, but it also brings a significant number of students to choose it as their specialty.

One day, there will be no other reflection than the one concerning education. (Friedrich Nietzsche)