Associations of early career psychiatrists worldwide: history, role, and future perspectives

In response to the multitude of scientific, clinical, and social challenges that psychiatry faces today and the challenges in professional development that go along with them, several associations of early career psychiatrists (ECPs) have been created around the globe in recent years. Participation in these associations promotes local, national, and international sharing of experiences and provides advocacy platforms for improvement of training and working standards. Furthermore, associations of ECPs contribute to networking and to decreasing professional isolation. This paper provides an overview of the aims, structure, and organization of some of the most important international associations of ECPs. Some of the first national associations of ECPs will also be described.