As a lay trustee, he will support the college to serve its 21,600 members and promote the voice of psychiatry in the UK and internationally throughout their five-year terms.

Dr Morrow was formally appointed to the board at the college’s annual general meeting, which was held at its International Congress in Newport, Wales yesterday.

Dr Lade Smith CBE, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: “It is a privilege to welcome such outstanding individuals such as Joe Morrow to the College. Their unique knowledge and skills will help ensure we continue to grow as an institution and are ready to overcome the increasingly complex challenges facing mental healthcare.”

Dr Morrow has been actively involved with numerous charities, community activities and civic duties in Scotland for more than 40 years. He is a member of the Faculty of Advocates, having previously been a solicitor, and was appointed King’s Counsel in September 2015. He was Her Majesty’s commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission of Scotland between 1998 and 2006, president of the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland from 2010 until 2014 and president of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland from 2008 until 2019.

Dr Morrow said: “I am honoured in being appointed lay trustee of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The appointment builds on an over 30-year involvement in the mental health arena. It is a privilege to continue to be able to support and promote the role of the psychiatrist within the front-line service of our health service.”