In the last years several social, economic and scientific changes have occurred, which have had a significant impact on psychiatric clinical practice, research and training. Some traditional syndromes seem to be disappeared, while new forms of mental health problems are coming to psychiatric consultation. The psychosocial distress caused by the current ongoing crisis due to the COVID-19 or the maladaptive use of the new technologies among the younger generation, are some good examples of psychosocial factors causing new mental health disturbances. Psychiatrists and mental health professionals are not yet well-equipped for managing these, which represent major unmet needs in modern clinical practice. Furthermore, in this evolving social context, the societal role of psychiatrists is completely changed, moving from being “alienist” working in asylums to “mental health care providers” working in the communities. The role of psychiatrists is to improve global mental health and to promote well-being in the general population according to a life-span perspective. Nowadays, early career psychiatrists report several unmet needs that we are not able to manage. In this symposium, I will describe my personal experience of moving from my role of mentee to mentor.

The transition from trainee early career psychiatrist (ECP) to independent practitioner can be challenging. Upon completion of training in well-equipped academic settings, an ECP from Myanmar is required to serve in a divisional hospital for at least 3 years. Significant challenges are faced by ECPs practising solo in divisional hospitals, including inexperience in administrative aspects, lack of future-proof training, scarcity of resources and facilities, struggles in the provision of holistic biopsychosocial treatment, work–life imbalance, and limited career advancement and access to continuous training. The solutions tried thus far include the incorporation of information and communication technology in training, gathering support and distant supervision from both local and international settings, and task shifting. Bigger challenges are often rewarded by faster growth, and difficult times stimulate creative solutions. The sacrifice of these solo ECPs has significantly improved the mental health service of Myanmar district regions.