This paper describes and analyses the ways in which women are disadvantaged in the Australian apprenticeship system. While women make up 47.9% of the Australian workforce, only 28.0% of apprentices and trainees are women.

‘Traditional trade’ apprenticeships are still predominantly undertaken by men. The newer ‘traineeships’, introduced in the 1980s to provide apprenticed training to more occupations and to allow equal access to women, receive less funding and fewer training resources. The paper traces the developments by analysing government reports, participation data by gender in the apprenticeship system, and apprentice/trainee funding rates for the main occupations. The paper also shows how post-COVID developments in the economy have been harnessed to favour male-dominated occupations in the apprenticeship system. The paper argues that the encouragement of women into trade apprenticeships has moved from an ‘equity’ argument to a ‘national interest’ argument, paralleling the conscription of women to fill the gaps left by men during the Second World War.

The discussion shows that the disadvantaged status of women is largely consistent with existing theories on gender and work, but there are some points of departure. The paper argues that more research into traineeships is needed to inform developments. It would provide a voice for feminised occupations and would assist in countering the monopolisation of the debate by masculinised interest groups.

While the data are Australian, the issues potentially apply to all countries which have apprenticeship systems, but have the most relevance for women in countries where male-dominated occupations are privileged in apprenticeship policy.

Clinical academics in psychiatry face several inequities, many of which are specific to women academics and intersectional in nature. We characterise the current state of UK academic psychiatry utilising findings of the annual Medical Schools Council clinical academic survey, and consider initiatives seeking to address gaps in supporting the career journeys of women academics.

Only a minority with mental disorders worldwide receive treatment with negligible coverage of interventions to prevent associated impacts, prevent mental disorders or promote mental well-being. Reasons include insufficient public mental health (PMH) skills and training. An electronic search found limited availability of PMH courses globally. Improved access to PMH training informed by a core curriculum will support sustainable reduction of mental disorders, promotion of population mental health well-being and broad associated impacts across sectors. Regular assessment of PMH training coverage and impact will support sustainable progress.

To provide a useful contextual backdrop to an exhibition at the Royal College of Psychiatrists this summer, we used a question and answer format to summarise the thoughts of its curator, Gavin Miller. Gavin has chosen 12 books published by Penguin between 1949 and 1975 to illuminate the relationship between psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and the British media. He reflects on the opportunities and pitfalls that come with the association, the motivations of previous writers and provides practical advice for any media psychiatrists considering such a role in the future. The exhibition is open to visitors to the College building in London.

In the past 20 years, there has been growing interest in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people with intellectual disabilities. It is now widely recognised that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to be affected by traumatic experiences than those without. The authors discuss advancements in understanding trauma and PTSD in individuals with intellectual disabilities, as well as improvements in clinical assessment and treatment. They also emphasise the need for further research into the effects of trauma and PTSD on this vulnerable and often marginalised population.

Nidumolu et al’s article in BJPsych Advances illustrates how psychiatrists might use the key concepts of quality improvement (QI) to analyse and improve mental healthcare systems. This commentary on the article points out the importance of recognising the type of problem for which QI is best suited and the role of softer, relational approaches alongside the technical tools of improvement. It also highlights that QI can bring broader benefits to a team and organisation, including improvements in staff engagement and well-being. In mental health services, psychiatrists can play a key role in enabling and role-modelling this approach to problem-solving, as their extensive experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and shared decision-making with patients can be a great asset in QI.

Geriatric (old age) psychiatry faces growing challenges amid Europe’s ageing population. This editorial emphasises the need for specialised training, mentorship and subspecialty recognition to attract young psychiatrists. By addressing structural gaps and fostering innovation, the field offers a rewarding career in enhancing older adults’ mental healthcare and quality of life.

This paper highlights systemic research and clinical deficiencies in addressing eating disorders among males and men, focusing on societal stigma, gender-biased diagnostics and barriers to care. It advocates for comprehensive reforms, including addressing systemic underfunding, closing research gaps, improving clinician training and tailored interventions to reduce disparities and improve outcomes.

Workforce planning aims to model and predict supply and demand in medical specialties. In Scotland it is undertaken jointly by the Scottish Government and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland to ensure workforce sustainability. The survey described in this paper aimed to ascertain why doctors continue to choose to take a break from/delay training programmes or pursue alternative jobs and career pathways. Career breaks, time out of training, less than full-time working patterns, dual training and non-clinical careers need to be taken into account during workforce planning not only to make psychiatry an attractive specialty to work in, but to ensure robust future sustainability in the psychiatric workforce in Scotland and the UK.