The Serbian Psychiatric Association (SPA) represents the rightful heir to the Psychiatric Association of Serbia and Montenegro, and Yugoslav Psychiatric Association (after political changes in the country). It is a non-profit national professional association, with more than 200 psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals. SPA deals with psychiatry and its related disciplines and it focuses on the improvement of care for the mentally ill as well as on the development of professional excellence.

Mission
The mission of SPA is to serve the professional needs of its membership and to promote excellence in education, research, and clinical practice, as well as to improve the care for the individuals with mental disorders.

Objectives of the Association

• Collecting knowledge on current state and needs of psychiatric services, as well as creating possibilities for education in the field of psychiatry and mental health care in the country.
• Organizational improvement of mental health care in the community, based on scientific, humanistic and holistic principles, with emphasis on territorial responsibility, continuous care, interdisciplinary practice and individualization of treatment (psychiatry for the person).
• Work on harmonization of educational programs at undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the field of psychiatry, including residency education and continuous medical education (CME).
• Respect of the ethical principles of psychiatric practice and of all kind of mental health care in the country.
• Prevention of mental disorders and mental health promotion.
• Destigmatization of persons with mental disorders, as well as destigmatization of psychiatry and psychiatrists.
• Establishing partnership with governmental and intergovernmental organizations, as well as with nongovernmental organizations, aimed at mental health improvement.
• Cooperation with patients’ associations.
• Improving communication, organizational and functional aspects of work of the Association and its cooperation with international psychiatric associations such as World Psychiatric Association, European Psychiatric Association, regional associations, etc, (organization of meetings, education, research activities and publication).
• Collaboration with the Government of Serbia and international organizations regarding the development and enforcement of mental health care policy, expert education and research, as well as providing adequate financing according to current health-economical data regarding global burden of mental disorders.

Executive Board (EB)
The SPA Executive Board is composed of the President, President Elect, Secretary General, Secretary for Education, Secretary for Sections and publication, Secretary for Finances and the Council. The Executive Committee meets at least four times a year.

Publications
The official journals of the Serbian Psychiatric Association are “Psychiatry today” – published by the Institute of Mental Health, Belgrade & “Engrami” – published by the Clinic of Psychiatry, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade.

Cooperation in organizing scientific meetings
The SPA organizes the National Congress of the Serbian Psychiatric Association every four years. It also organizes international and regional congresses and meetings, educational symposia and thematic conferences every year.

Cooperation with WPA
The SPA board members had attended all the WPA congresses since 1996 as an official delegate, and, as well participated as members of many WPA Sections.

Cooperation with EPA
SPA members are active in EPA as members of the Council and Committee for Education and Sections. SPA took part in the research on ethical issues in the psychiatry in European countries.

Prof. Cedo Miljevic, MD, PhD
President of Serbian Psychiatric Association