Bhutan Old Age Psychiatry Education Program 2023 | Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan

The increasing elderly population in Bhutan, mirroring global trends, faces a shortage of resources for the development of mental health services tailored to the needs of the elderly. Recognizing this gap, a charitable initiative has been conceived to aid Bhutan by providing training to mental health practitioners. The Bhutan Old Age Psychiatry Education Program 2023 was launched following extensive planning and discussions by teams from the UK, Bhutan, and Malaysia through series of online meetings. It was organized by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, UK (BCUHB) jointly with the Department of Psychiatry, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB).

The inauguration of Bhutan Old Age Psychiatry Education Program 2023 webinar series was graced by the President of KGUMSB, Dr. K.P. Tshering on 18^th August 2023. The speakers were experts from the UK and Malaysia in geriatric psychiatry who volunteered to participate in the program. The attendees for the entire program consisted of psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, medical officers, occupational therapists, nurses, and counsellors. Over three months (from August 2023 to October 2023), crucial topics, particularly those addressing mental health issues in the elderly population, were deliberated upon in two-hour sessions. The discussions encompassed the recognition, assessment, and treatment of mental health disorders in the elderly.

The program concluded formally on January 18, 2024, with notable attendees such as the Registrar of the KGUMSB, Dr. Kuenzang Chenzom, the Medical and Dental Educational Manager of BCUHB, Mrs. Andrea Taylor and the organizers, and speakers. During the conclusion ceremony it was discussed that this academic activity to be potentially an annual event and for sustainability of the program the possibility of having a memorandum of understanding between the two universities were also discussed.

This initiative represents a significant step towards bridging the gap in mental health services for the elderly in Bhutan. The closing ceremony marked a momentous occasion, attended by key figures in the field, signifying the commitment to addressing the mental health needs of the elderly population in Bhutan.

The details of the topics and speakers and organizing committee are mentioned below in the table 1 and 2 respectively.

Table 1. Details of the topics and speakers.

Date	Topic	Speaker and Designation	Total Participants
18^th August 2023	Neurocognitive conditions	Dr Amrita VaranasiConsultant Old Age Psychiatrist and Training Programme Director of Old Age Psychiatry of Health Education and Improvement Wales	80
22^nd August 2023	Delirium	Dr Andy ChatfieldConsultant Old Age Psychiatrist of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Honorary Lecturer of Cardiff University	70
25^th August 2023	Setting up old age mental health services with limited resources	Dr Fan Jiet ChenConsultant Neuropsychiatrist, Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia	50
29^th August 2023	Functional mental health conditions and Screening in the Elderly	Dr Sharmi BhattacharyyaConsultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead of the Older Person Mental Health Service of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; and Visiting Professor at the University of Chester.	41
4^thSeptember 2023	Electroconvulsive therapy for elderly patients	Dr Keng Hong ChhoaPsychiatrist and Fellow in Geriatric Psychiatry, Hospital Kuala Lumpur	71
8^thSeptember 2023	Risk assessment and management for elderly patients with mental health needs	Dr Andy ChatfieldConsultant Old Age Psychiatrist of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Honorary Lecturer of Cardiff University	46
6^th October 2023	Care for the elderly with neurocognitive disorders in the community	Dr Jain SebastianSpecialist Registrar, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust	41

Table 2. The Organizing Committee

Name	Designation
Dr. Jiann Lin Loo	Psychiatrist Registrar and Medical Education Fellow, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, UK.
Dr. Bikram Chhetri	Consultant Psychiatrist, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan
Dr. Noor Melissa Nor Hadi,	Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Dr. Sonam Wangchuk	Psychiatrist Registrar, Universiti Sains Malaysia