The state of psychogeriatrics in different regions of the world: challenges and opportunities.

Global population aging is pervasive, profound, and enduring, with the projected proportion of older persons reaching nearly 21% in 2050 (UNFPA and Help Age International, 2012). Accordingly, there is an increasing need for geriatric mental health services with the rapid growth of the aging population worldwide (Bragg et al., 2012). The availability of geriatric mental health services varies substantially across the world. Some regions, or countries, such as the United Kingdom, have sophisticated geriatric mental health services and others, for example in Africa, bear the consequences of undeveloped services. Still, International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA) experts believed that an appropriate needs assessment would show both commonalities and differences in needs despite the big differences that exist in the development of geriatric mental health services in different parts of the world. In 2011, IPA initiated the President’s Forum primarily to address the contrast between the need of mental health services and the difficulties met by societies and governments in providing adequate resources to psychogeriatric professionals. In particular, each affiliate organization of IPA, which is comprised of professionals concerned primarily with activities related to those of IPA, was encouraged to share ideas how to overcome these problems and the role that IPA can play to support their organization. Second, the President’s Forum also aimed to present the different possibilities and solutions to provide these services and to facilitate the cooperation by IPA between participating societies to help each other to develop new capabilities. On September 6, 2011, when the IPA International Congress was held in the Hague, the Netherlands, representatives of 20 affiliates, mostly presidents and secretaries, attended the first President Forum and presented a report on the state of the development of geriatric psychiatry services in their countries and its perceived needs. Following the forum, all affiliates were asked to submit a written report for further analysis. Although a specific outline structure on needs, strengths, and plans for action was provided, affiliates were encouraged to use their own way to address the relevant issues. In total, 15 reports were received in document format and one in slide format; nine from the AsianPacific region, five from Europe, and 1 from South America. The prioritizing needs for the development of psychogeriatrics, strength, and available resources, and action plans are outlined below.