The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance project launched in 2008 has the aim of providing European psychiatry with guidance in topics, which are relevant for European mental health care. Guidance from a European perspective can be favorable against the background of a growing sense of Europe and the desirable associated harmonization on all levels of health care policy.

More precisely, the mission of the EPA guidance is defined as ‘to improve quality of mental health care in Europe by disseminating written information based on best evidence and psychiatric practice, to facilitate countries learning from each other’.

In consonance with this need of a wider multinational perspective of European psychiatry, EPA adopted in 2012 through a deep change of its statutes a new membership structure that allows National Psychiatric Societies/Associations (NPAs) in Europe the possibility to become full members of EPA. Up to 40 NPAs corresponding to 37 countries and representing over 80.000 psychiatrists have responded positively to the offer and are now part of the Council of National Psychiatric Societies, the body within EPA that integrates them.

The Council of NPAs has become, in this way, a forum for its members to meet, discuss and work on issues concerning European psychiatry. One of the major issues is about the implementation of European guidance in mental health policy, teaching and learning psychiatry, best clinical practice in different areas, and quality indicators. This presentation provides further details on how participating societies could put these policies and recommendations into practice.