Are psychiatrists equipped for management roles in mental health services?

To promote the discussion of leadership and management skills development among psychiatrists in Australia and New Zealand.

A key informant survey of fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists was conducted via a semi-structured interview. This canvassed views about leadership and management issues including levels of confidence and needs for additional skills.

There was widespread support for psychiatrists to be in management roles in mental health services; however, on entering management positions, psychiatrists often felt inadequately trained and prepared for their new role. Furthermore, many who had made the transition to management perceived a lack of support from their clinical colleagues. Clinicians appeared to believe that management was not difficult to learn and could be done by any experienced clinician. The provision of short courses and mentoring programmes is the preferred option for most psychiatrists seeking to acquire leadership and management skills.

For psychiatrists to maximize their potential as leaders in Australian and New Zealand mental health services, greater attention to promoting the acquisition of relevant skills throughout training and in the post-fellowship years is required. Psychiatrists need to be supported and encouraged to pursue further education, training and research in this area. Failure to address this issue risks psychiatrists continuing to feel disadvantaged in management roles and hence reluctant to undertake the challenge.