In a letter to me of the 25th September 2024, Dr Lade Smith, CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said:
“Finally, you also suggested the College could address language used by members in relation to individuals sharing their personal experiences. I assume this relates to social media use, for which we do not have a remit to monitor or regulate individual College members activity. We have, however, a social media policy which provides guidance on this matter, and I can assure you that I expect those speaking on behalf of the College, who are currently in an elected or appointed role, to do so in a respectful manner, in line with our College values.”
What Dr Smith did not make clear in her reply is that in January 2024 the Royal College of Psychiatrists rewrote its social media policy:
The major change in this “updated” College policy is that the vast majority of it only applies to “any member of the College who is a Senior College Office Holder or Other College Post Holder.”
Previous College social media policies, including upholding the values of the College, had applied to the entire membership. The new policy introduces an interesting re-definition of what is commonly understood as membership. As well as removing the College’s responsibility for oversight this policy change appears to give the wider membership licence to depart from College values when using social media.
In a time where the impact on mental health of online behaviour is being increasingly recognised as a society-wide issue surely the College should be taking a more proactive role rather than retreating from taking responsibility for the behaviour of its full membership.