Royal College of Psychiatrists welcomes its new President
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Press Release
Professor Sue Bailey starts her three year term of office as the new President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists today (30th June 2011).
Professor Bailey is Consultant Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist in the Forensic Adolescent Consultation & Treatment Services (FACTS) at Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The focus of her clinical work and research has been assessing the needs and managing the risks presented by and to young people who enter the mental health, social care and youth justice systems nationally and internationally.
Professor Bailey has been active in the work of the RCPsych for many years. From 2001 to 2005, Sue was Chair of the Child and Adolescent Faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and from 2005-2010 she was Registrar of the College, responsible for shaping mental health policy and working in partnership with service users and carers.
Professor Bailey said: “I am delighted to have been chosen to lead the Royal College of Psychiatrists over the next three years. My predecessor, Professor Dinesh Bhugra, has worked hard to promote the role of psychiatrists as leaders in delivering quality services and ensuring the voice of psychiatrists is heard at the very highest level. This is something I aim to continue. In addition, having been a child and adolescent psychiatrist for 30 years, I hope to speak out for the needs of young people and families.
“It is vital that services for people with mental illness are not eroded during this period of economic restraint. We know that mental illness is associated with great risk of physical illness, and vice versa. Promoting mental health can bring great health, social and economic benefits across all sectors of society.”
Professor Bailey’s priorities are to:
Promote the importance of research into mental illness and learning disability, to improve the health of the nation.
Work with families to improve their mental health and emotional well-being
Highlight inequalities in health and social care for vulnerable groups, including children and people with learning disabilities, patients in forensic settings, and those from diverse cultures.
Support services, treatment and choice for psychiatric patients across the lifespan in this time of economic uncertainty.
Professor Sue Bailey succeeds Professor Dinesh Bhugra, who has been President since 2008.
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