President's Message
Anne Margriet Pot, PhD
President (2024-2025)
Dear colleagues,
Message from the President
As I write this message, our International Congress in Kanazawa is just two weeks away. Preparations are in full swing for the 2025 IPA Congress, themed
“Fostering Inclusive and Supportive Societies Worldwide to Enhance the Mental Health of Older Adults.”
We are delighted to partner with the Japanese Psychogeriatric Society and colleagues across our international community. Already 345 participants have registered, and registration remains open — we warmly invite you to join us: Register Here!
A heartfelt thanks to everyone making this congress possible, especially our Immediate Past President Manabu Takeda, who is chairing the Organizing Committee, and TJ Hwang and Shun Shinagawa who are chairing the Scientific Committee.
During the meeting, two new IPA Task Forces — on Artificial Intelligence and on Mentorship — will also convene, shaping our next chapter.
Immediately after the congress, we will host a two-day expert meeting on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) in Neurocognitive Disorders in Kanazawa, led by Mary Sano and Jacobo Mintzer. Since our 2024 conference in Buenos Aires, four working groups have been summarizing the latest evidence on psychosis, agitation, apathy, and depression. Together with an overarching article, their papers will be published in our own journal “International Psychogeriatrics”. This focused meeting will finalize key statements and explore how best to translate this knowledge into practice to benefit older people worldwide.
The coming months bring fresh opportunities to stay connected as a global community:
- Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Week (1–10 October) — a perfect moment to highlight that Fostering Inclusive and Supportive societies Worldwide to enhance Mental Health of Older Adults reinforcing the importance of age-inclusive mental health.
- A lively program of webinars, debates, and journal clubs to share ideas and spark innovation. Our most recent webinar on Personality Disorders in Later Life drew over 250 registrants and excellent discussion.
- Expanding international collaborations to broaden our impact and strengthen our voice around the world.
A warm welcome to our new members! Many colleagues join IPA during our congress period — and enjoy a reduced congress fee — and we are thrilled to have you with us. Your fresh perspectives and energy strengthen our network and help us remain a truly connected, global community.
And good to know: early preparations are already underway for the 2026 IPA Congress in Leiden, the Netherlands (1–4 July 2026) — ensuring continuity and new momentum right after Kanazawa.
In a time when science and care face political and societal pressures, our connectedness — across disciplines, cultures, and generations — remains our greatest strength.
Together we will continue to champion the mental health of older persons worldwide, while also caring for our own well-being and that of one another.
Warm regards,
Anne Margriet Pot, President
