The emerging new role of psychiatrists and new ways of working require adequate training provision. If the consultant psychiatrist workforce continues to increase, it needs to be accompanied by an increase in the academic psychiatrist workforce.

Advancements driven by the academic workforce play a key role in the levels of progress and development in the field. Future impacts on the perceived prestige of the profession are linked with the recruitment rates and retention of psychiatrists.

Proposed workforce impact

• Adequate training provision to meet demand for psychiatrists
• Upskilling of mental health workforce
• Adequate supply of research and development resources for health and social care

Sources or references

• Kleinman, (2012), Rebalancing academic psychiatry: why it needs to happen – and soon, The British J Psychiatry, 201, 421-422.
• Thase, (2003), Is academic psychiatry for sale? The British J Psychiatry,182, 388-390.

Additional research questions

• How will the current trends in academic psychiatry impact on the workforce?
• How will research from related areas, such as neuroscience and neurology, impact on psychiatry?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.