Leo Sher, M.D.

Today, we publish an interview with an eminent European psychiatrist, Dr. Jussi Jokinen.

Jussi Jokinen, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor of Psychiatry, University of Umea, Sweden.

Leo Sher: What is the most important issue in contemporary psychiatry?

Jussi Jokinen: Prevention of serious mental illness, including identifying individuals at risk and prevention of suicide.

Leo Sher: How do you see the future of psychiatry?

Jussi Jokinen: Psychiatry in the future may have more endophenotype, neuroscience based personalized treatments.

Leo Sher: What needs to be done to improve psychological health and reduce suicide rates around the world?

Jussi Jokinen: We need to improve early assessment, diagnostics, coordination of care and support between different providers and disciplines, staff training interventions to improve competency and skills, shared decision – making, components of care and different types of psychosocial support interventions in clinical psychiatry.