What’s New at the APA
- APA received a $100,000 grant from the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) to promote early intervention and proper diagnosis of eating disorders. APA plans to use the grant funding to develop resources based on the upcoming APA Practice Guideline on the Treatment of Eating Disorders aimed at educating psychiatrists, primary care providers, and patients and caregivers in the importance of diagnosing eating disorders early and accurately. APA is one of 11 medical specialty societies awarded $100,00 grants by CMSS to promote diagnostic excellence in medicine. You can read more about the CMSS grant here.
- 79% of Americans view mental health as a public health emergency that merits attention from lawmakers, according to the latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from APA in association with Morning Consult. Nearly three quarters (71%) of those polled said they would vote for a candidate who promised to invest in mental health. Furthermore, 80% of those polled said they viewed the state of children’s mental health as a public health emergency. You can read more about Americans’ views on the state of mental health in our country, and see the full poll results here.
- Around three-quarters of Americans believe that people incarcerated in prison or jail should have access to high-quality mental health care according to the Healthy Minds Monthly poll commissioned by APA and conducted by Morning Consult of 2,111 adults between Sep. 30 and Oct. 2, 2022. Americans are aware of the high prevalence of mental illness in our nation’s prisons and jails, but only one in five (20%) believe that those incarcerated are receiving the care they need. You can read more about Americans’ opinions on criminal justice and mental health here.
Visit APA’s Newsroom for the latest news releases, statements, blogs, monthly public opinion poll results, and other information.
APA Communications Monthly Themes: November & December 2022
APA’s office of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs (CCPA) has developed monthly themes that serve as conceptual anchors for APA communications efforts each month. The theme for November 2022 is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and how the changing of seasons can affect mental health, while in December 2022 the focus will be on Holiday Mental Health, and how to manage the stresses of the holiday season and promote your mental health. Visit APA’s social channels to participate in the conversation each month.
Animated Explainer Videos on Common Disorders
APA has developed a series of animated explainer videos on commonly searched mental disorders and other conditions related to mental health. The videos cover topics including OCD, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and Climate Change, among others. You can see all of the videos in English here, and in Spanish here. Be sure to subscribe to APA’s YouTube Channel as new videos on other topics and disorders are added on a regular basis.
Briefs for Your Newsletter
November Course of the Month – Advocacy for Anti-Racist Policies That Expand Equitable Access to Mental Health Care: The Role of the Psychiatrist
This course aims to embolden participants in their paths to becoming clinician advocates – providing practical skill building on best advocacy practices, including tackling parity with an equity lens, actively working to recruit leadership and practitioners that represent the surrounding communities, expanding access to culturally-centered care, and more. Examples of effective actions individuals can take to support policy change, as well as resources available will be discussed.
Click here to access the Course of the Month and sign up for updates about this free member benefit.
Meet your 2023 APA Elections Candidates
The slate of candidates for election to APA’s Board of Trustees is now live on Psychiatry.org. You can view the full list of candidates for office, read their biographical data and view the APA Election schedule here. Stay tuned for more information on a Meet-the-Candidates Virtual Town Hall, scheduled for December 5th. Town halls for candidates elected by members in areas 2 and 5 are scheduled for December 6th & 7th respectively. The RFM trustee town hall is scheduled for December 8th. For any questions to the process, refer to the APA Elections Guidelines or send an email to election@psych.org
The 2022 Mental Health Services Conference On Demand
Gain access to a digital library with over 50 hours of the best sessions from the 2022 Mental Health Services Conference. Explore solutions to mental health disparities, learn the latest treatments, and discover new ways to improve patient lives – anytime, anywhere, and on any device. See the Mental Health Services Conference On Demand library here.
Latest Emerging Topics Webinar focuses on Impact of Climate Change on Mental Health:
We invite you to join us Friday, November 4 at 3:30 PM ET for our next Emerging Topics webinar, Facing the Hard Truths About Our Climate Disaster– Psychiatry's Role in Preparing society to accept a necessary shift in the Cultural Paradigm. This webinar will be presented by Dr. Saundra Maass-Robinson, M.D., and Dr. Kenneth Thompson, M.D. Participation is free for both members and non-members. RSVP Today »
Mental Health Equity Fireside Chats
Bias in clinical practice, particularly in relation to race and gender, is a persistent cause of healthcare disparities. This bias can impact patient-provider interactions, treatment decisions, patient treatment adherence, and patient health outcomes. In this Fireside chat, panelists will unpack bias and explore cognitive and other strategies to ameliorate its impact on mental health care. Register Today »