I am thankful for the support from the members and directors of Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry (TSOP). It is my honor to be the 32rd president of the TSOP. As a practitioner in psychiatric clinics for the past nine years, my position reflects the consistency of the 25-year career as a psychiatrist, acts as a bridge between different systems internationally, and promotes collaboration between clinical, educational, research, government, and community mental health institutions.

According to the report from the Taiwanese Medical Association (www.tma.tw/stats/index_AllPDF.asp), the number of psychiatrists in Taiwan has been rapidly increased from 1,292 in 2008 to 1,837 in 2022, which is 42% increased in 15 years. This situation is in accordance with the rapidly increasing demands for mental health, especially twice increase of common mental disorder [1]. To meet the needs of patients with common mental disorder, the number of general psychiatrists practicing in clinics has been increased to more than three-fold from 159 in 2008 to 553 in 2022 (www.tma.tw/stats/index_AllPDF.asp). Also, the fields of psychiatric practice have been diversified and deepened. These fields include addiction medicine, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. We are developing various biological and psychological therapies in different psychiatric services for our patients. It is our goal to elevate professional and ethical standards to provide the best psychiatric care for patients and to facilitate the acceptance of patients by families and society. We also make great effort to have good alliance with other interdisciplinary professionals in Taiwan and psychiatric associations across the world. The most important thing of all is to engage in dialogues with officers in the government and to strive for necessary psychiatric resources in Taiwan.

The commitment of the TSOP to safeguarding the professional discipline should start with the education and training. We aim at optimalizing the training for resident doctors in psychiatry and the continuous education for psychiatrists through the committees of selection, education, academic programs, and editorial. Subspecialty committees and professional subcommittees must devote to fostering the development of various professional fields, and the ethic committee can ensure professional self-discipline. Additionally, the TSOP also establishes academic alliance with the cross-disciplinary professional groups. Taiwanese Journal of Psychiatry, the official academic publication of the TSOP, is the cornerstone to establish the academic communication internationally. The Public Affairs Subcommittee aims at establishing a seamless and efficient bridge of dialogue in Taiwan. Through the facilitation of the International Affairs Committee, we seek to promote constructive discussions with international professional organizations in clinical practice, academia, and mental health system.

Building on the foundation of professional safeguarding, the TSOP will actively protect the resources and rights of its members. To maintain reasonable resources of psychiatry service, it is important to communicate and negotiate with National Health Insurance Administration, regional medical association and Taiwan Medical Association. Furthermore, relevant psychiatric resources should be proclaimed from other public sectors such as the Department of Mental Health, Health Promotion Association, and National Science Council in Taiwan. Based on the evaluation of psychiatric service, the TSOP can provide evidence to secure public resources beyond the coverage of national health insurance. Additionally, the TSOP should improve psychiatrists' working environment by reforming labor policies with other physician groups.

As the elected two-year term of the president of the TSOP, I extend my gratitude to the senior members who provided precious suggestions about the continuous development of the TSOP. These suggestions include the resources and functions of the secretariat, reserve of the professional pools, and participate in setting national policies. I am thankful to Hsi-Chung Chen for taking the important rôle of secretary-general of the TSOP. He leads the senior secretaries and 12 deputy secretary-generals from various organizations and specialties to execute the decisions of the directors of the board. Directors of each committees and subcommittees are the strongest intellectual assets in the TSOP. Close cooperation with the Department of Mental Health, which is leaded by Liang-Yu Chen will be continuously pursued. From the vision of public health, the TSOP must emphasize the importance of early recognition and treatment of psychiatric illness. The TSOP should deliver related knowledge to members, enhance the awareness of psychiatric illness in public, and decrease the sigma of psychiatric illness in Taiwan. These preventive fields include mental problems in children and adolescents, early psychosis, substance abuse, depression, and dementia of the elderly. Considering amendments to the Mental Health Act and reform of National Health Insurance, the TSOP will plan to establish the research teams to provide relevant opinions to public sectors. Finally, I express my gratitude to all directors and members of the Association of Taiwanese Psychiatric Clinic (ATPC) who have worked closely with me in these years. I believe that the ATPC can work as the best front-line partner with the TSOP. I believe that all the directors from various systems will cooperate with each other, serve for all members, and pass on the responsibilities to the future generation. Let us create a new era of Taiwanese Psychiatry together. That is to create together, endure together, and share glory together.

Jen-Pang Wang M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D.