[How Japan can help improve psychiatry and mental health services in Asia].

The number of members (about 16,000) of the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) is second only to that (about 38,000) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the world. The JSPN is the biggest national psychiatric society in Asia. However, the JSPN has not played a sufficient role to improve psychiatry and mental health services of neighboring Asian countries. In this paper, I would like to present my personal viewpoints on the possible way the JSPN can contribute to improving Asian psychiatry and mental health services. Based on my experience for many years of working in Asia, I would like to suggest: (A) to study the historical background of the development of modern Asian psychiatry since colonial times; (B) to take into consideration the different levels of socio-economic development, culture, and mental health resources of other Asian countries; (C) to find a way to promote dialogues among greatly diverse Asian psychiatric societies; (D) to form mutually beneficial relationships among mental health workers from various Asian countries.