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The Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University held the 20th International Conference of Psychiatry, the 8th for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the 5th for Addiction Psychiatry and Dual Diagnosis, and the 2nd for Women's Mental Health, from May 27–29, under the title “Global Adversities and Psychiatry”. The event was attended by a distinguished group of psychiatry professors from Egypt and around the world, and witnessed the presence of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the University Hospitals Board; and Prof. Ahmed Okasha, Professor of Psychiatry, Founder of the Ahmed Okasha Center for Psychiatry at Ain Shams University, and Advisor to the President of the Republic for Mental Health and Social Integration.

In his opening speech, Prof. Mohamed Diaa reaffirmed his consistent commitment to attending the Faculty of Medicine's conferences, praising the significant role the faculty plays in delivering high-quality medical services to Egyptian patients, particularly in the field of mental health.

For his part, Prof. Ahmed Okasha emphasized that psychiatry is no longer just a medical specialty, but rather a necessity for enhancing quality of life, especially considering the global challenges societies currently face. He stressed the importance of addressing these challenges from a comprehensive scientific perspective.

Prof. Ali Al-Anwar noted that the Ahmed Okasha Center is one of the pioneering institutions in the treatment of psychiatric patients, especially those who are underprivileged, and that it attracts many patients due to the quality of the services it provides.

Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of Ain Shams University Hospitals, stated that the center offers its therapeutic services to patients free of charge. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about mental illnesses and ways of managing psychological pressures and various disorders, including depression.

Prof. Tarek Okasha, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Ahmed Okasha Center for Psychiatry, reviewed the history of the center. He explained that psychiatric services began at Ain Shams University Hospital in 1964 as a unit within the Department of Internal Medicine under the name "Department of Neuropsychiatric Disorders." The name was later changed to the "Department of Psychiatry" at the request of Dr. Ahmed Okasha, and the center was officially inaugurated in 1990.

He noted that the center started with only four professors and now comprises 141 doctors, professors, and assistant lecturers. This year marks the 35th anniversary of its inauguration, while the conference itself has been held regularly for the past 20 years.

The conference was attended by Prof. Afaf Hamed, Professor of Psychiatry at Ain Shams University and Honorary President of the Conference; Dr. Menan Abdel Maqsoud, Secretary General of Mental Health at the General Secretariat of Mental Health and Addiction Treatment; as well as numerous faculty members of the Psychiatry Department at Ain Shams University and several psychiatry professors from different countries.

The conference featured three main tracks, each comprising several sessions over two days. The first track focused on general psychiatry, the second on child psychiatry, and the third on general psychiatry and addiction. Additionally, several workshops were held at the Prof. Ahmed Okasha Center on the sidelines of the conference. These workshops tackled new developments in the treatment of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and neurological disorders like panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Other workshops addressed leadership skills, choosing medical specialties, and the impact of global events on mental health and psychiatric care—such as climate change, political issues, wars, and economic problems—which influence the quality of life and work performance. The discussions explored strategies for coping with such events and improving the psychological health and quality of life of mental health patients.

The conference concluded with several key recommendations that focused on the importance of linking mental health to environmental and social factors, and the need to provide comprehensive services targeting various age groups.

Participants emphasized that mental disorders are directly affected by the surrounding environment, such as wars, climate change, economic crises, and interpersonal relationships. This necessitates a strengthened focus on the environment and society as part of a comprehensive plan to preserve the quality of life for psychiatric patients.

The conference also highlighted the importance of child and adolescent psychiatry, noting that 8% of children worldwide suffer from mental disorders, a figure that rises to 14% among adolescents. Moreover, nearly 75% of mental disorders begin before the age of 25, making it imperative to expand support services, prevention efforts, and awareness campaigns at early life stages.

The conference further stressed the need to spread community awareness about mental illnesses and to facilitate access to specialized treatments and services, affirming that this is a critical step in promoting mental health on a broad scale.

On the sidelines of the conference, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, honored Prof. Ali Al-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Chairman of the University Hospitals Board; Prof. Tarek Youssef, Executive Director of University Hospitals; and Prof. Tarek Okasha, Professor of Psychiatry, in recognition of their efforts. The ceremony also honored the pioneers of the department, from its founder, Prof. Ahmed Okasha, as Director of the Center for Psychiatry, to the most recent faculty staff. This recognition reflects loyalty and appreciation for the professors and founding generation of the Psychiatry Center at Ain Shams University.

It is worth noting that the Prof. Ahmed Okasha Center for Psychiatry is one of the most prominent specialized medical institutions in the field. It provides comprehensive services in general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, dual diagnosis, and geriatric psychiatry.

The center also includes advanced specialized clinics for sleep disorders and psychosexual disorders. It delivers its services through approximately 18 outpatient clinics operating five days a week, helping meet the needs of many patients.