The Yorkshire Regional Psychiatric Association is a group of psychiatrists, general practitioners, psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, chaplains, health managers and others working in the field of mental health. Its main functions are to promote vocational, academic and social discourse between members of the professions with an interest in mental health and handicap. It has about 300 members. The Association was founded in January 1949 as the Leeds Regional Psychiatric Association. This became the Yorkshire Regional Psychiatric Association in 1982. In 1989 the Association reaches its 40th anniversary. The Association can claim the distinction of being the first multi-professional society of workers in mental health to be established in the United Kingdom.