Call for applications: 2017 Jim Birley Scholarship

For young mental health professionals and other stakeholders who have shown exemplary commitment to issues of human rights in mental health.

In November 2013, the Board of the Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry decided to honor its late Past Chairman Dr. Jim Birley by instituting a scholarship focusing on issues that Dr. Birley was especially committed to: issues of human rights in mental health, and stimulating young mental health professionals and other stakeholders to pay special attention to the rights of persons with mental illness.

The Jim Birley Scholarship will be provided once a year during a high visibility event to a young mental health professional or another stakeholder (user, family-member or carer) who has shown exemplary commitment to the issue of human rights in mental health.

In 2017 one scholarships of 5,000 euro will be awarded (in case of equal points the scholarship might be divided between two winners). The scholarship is to be used for a cause to be proposed by the winner and should contribute to the strengthening of human rights in the field of mental health.

A committee consisting of four members, including a member of the Birley family, will select the winners from the submitted applications.

How to apply?

Candidates for the Jim Birley Scholarship should write to Human Rights in Mental Health-FGIP and in a letter explain:

• Why they should be eligible,
• Provide details about their background and what they have done to further human rights in mental health, and
• What they intend to do with the scholarship.

Two letters of recommendation should be added.

Applications should be submitted before June 11, 2017.

The Selection Committee will then select the winners of that year.

The winners of the award will be announced in late June 2017.