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IVBIJARO, Prof Gabriel: Past chair WP on Mental Health

UK: family doctor award winner

Prof Gabriel 'Gabby' Ivbijaro MBE  is the immediate past chair of the WONCA Working Party on Mental Health. He was recently inducted as an American Psychiatric Association International Distinguished Fellow at the 59th Convocation of Distinguished Fellows of the APA in Toronto, Canada on 18th May 2015.

International Distinguished Fellows of the APA are internationally recognised for their demonstrated skill in administrative, educational and clinical settings. They are also noted for volunteering in mental health and medical activities of social significance and involvement in community activities. Excellence, not mere competence is the hallmark of an APA International Distinguished Fellow.

Professor Ivbijaro is a member and past Chair of the Wonca Working Party on Mental Health, Medical Director of The Wood Street Medical Centre, London UK, Visiting Assistant Professor, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal and President Elect WFMH (World Federation for Mental Health).

Professor Ivbijaro initially specialized in Psychiatry and Neurology and subsequently specialized in General Practice. As a member of Wonca (World Organization of Family Doctors) he championed the cause of mental health globally among family doctors by setting up the Wonca Special Interest Group (SIG) in Psychiatry & Neurology in 2001.
Professor Ivbijaro is a specialist in Primary Care Mental Health and mental health service re-design. He worked in collaboration with the WHO to produce a ground breaking policy document published in 2008 entitled ‘Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: A Global Perspective’ which has influenced mental health delivery globally.

Professor Ivbijaro has presented papers and original thinking on primary care mental health integration at many local and international conferences and has published a range of articles in peer reviewed journals. He recently edited a book entitled ‘Companion to Primary Care Mental Health’ an international collaboration of 110 authors from all continents of the world, published in 2012, to promote access to and delivery of primary care mental health globally which received a five star (100%) Doody’s Review.

Professor Ivbijaro chaired and completed the Case for Change for Mental Health for London, UK in 2011 and has contributed to the Mental Health Service Pack in the European Union (EU) which advocates for the development of mental health services in all member states of the EU. His contribution to the National Health Service in the UK was recognised in 2012 when he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty the Queen. He is the founder of the World Dignity Project (www.worlddignityproject.com) a project dedicated to addressing the stigma of mental health and providing dignity in mental health care.

Submitted by Henk Parmentier.
WONCA News June 2015