News and Notes for APA District Branches/State Associations
September 2021
 
This monthly newsletter is prepared by the APA’s Communications Team as a benefit for our District Branches and State Associations. Feel free to share the articles below in your own newsletter. If you have any questions, please contact James Carty at jcarty@psych.org or 202-609-7077.
 
Want to keep up with APA in between newsletters? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, (@APAPsychiatric), Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest news and updates.
 
What’s New at the APA

• Rawle Andrews, Jr., Esq., has been named executive director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF) effective September 27, 2021. Andrews most recently served as a Vice President at AARP, where he worked for 15 years. You can read more about Rawle Andrews and the APAF here.
• APA released a statement in response to the deteriorating situation following the U.S. military withdrawal in Afghanistan. The statement highlights the need to provide critical mental health support and treatment to those who served in the conflict and refugees fleeing for their lives. It also lists resources for any affected by trauma related to the 20-year war. You can read the full statement and view the collected resources here. 
• SMI Adviser, a clinical support system for serious mental illness (SMI) administered by the APA and funded by SAMHSA, won three Gold Awards in the 2021 dotCOMM Awards. SMI Adviser won Gold awards for its My Mental Health Crisis Plan app, its Third National Conference on Advancing Early Psychosis Care in the U.S., and its guide on How to Talk About the COVID-19 Vaccine with Individuals Who Have Serious Mental Illness. You can read more about SMI Adviser and the dotCOMM Awards here.
• APA released guidance on coping with stress and mental health when considering a return to the workplace, featuring a new resource from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health. Returning to the Workplace Supporting Employees Through the Transition is a guide designed to help employers understand employees’ stresses and concerns and provide support to those returning to the workplace. You can read more about the guide and other tips on returning to work here.

 
Key Dates and Observances
APA Communications staff maintains a calendar of key dates, observances, and events at APA and in the world of mental health in general. The calendar is kept up to date a few months in advance. You can view the calendar and keep track of important mental health dates and observances here.
 
Briefs for Your Newsletter
 
Educational Opportunities:
 
The Mental Health Services Conference | Registration Now Open!
October 14 - 15, 2021 | Virtual
 
The Mental Health Services Conference (MHSC) will be held virtually this October 14 to 15 on the theme “Sociopolitical Determinants: Practice, Policy and Implementation.” The purpose of the MHSC will be to highlight educational programs and innovations in clinical services designed to ensure equal access to high-quality mental health care for all populations regardless of race/ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or geographical background. Hear more on the conference from Scientific Program Committee Chair Sarah Vinson, M.D.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCbyqLfYdLM&t=2s
More information:
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/meetings/the-mental-health-services-conference
 
September Course of the Month – Computational Psychiatry and Future Perspectives
With the development of computational methods, the contribution of algorithms is promising to the diagnosis process of psychiatric disorders. The course focuses on adaptive learning, providing a quantitative basis for measuring and predicting subjective states, and providing neurobiologically inspired models that can be used to inform mechanistic interpretations of large-scale data.
Click here to access the Course of the Month and sign up for updates about this free member benefit.
 
 
2022 Annual Meeting Submissions
APA is now accepting abstract submissions for its 2022 Annual Meeting, to be held May 21-25, 2022. The theme of the meeting is “Social Determinants of Mental Health.” Submissions must be made electronically through APA's online abstract submission system to be considered. The site will close on Thursday, September 9, at 5p.m. ET.
http://apapsy.ch/2022-am-submission
 
Enroll in Summer Courses Through September
APA is offering 10 interactive, collaborative courses this summer with reading, pre-recorded videos and quizzes, live group activities, case vignette discussions, and individual project assignments. Attendees can earn up to 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ accredited activities during each two-week course, with the last two sessions starting Sept. 13 (Disasters and Mental Health) and Sept. 20 (Imminent Suicide Risk Assessment in High-Risk Individuals).
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/meetings/annual-meeting/learning-opportunities/courses
 
Striving for Excellence Series: Addressing Mental Health Disparities Among African Americans/Blacks Through Patient Care
Morehouse School of Medicine & APA have launched the Striving for Excellence educational series, each learning activity will focus on a different subject that will bring awareness to disparities in African American/Black mental health care. The information provided in the series will help to increase behavioral health systems' capacity to provide outreach, engage, retain and effectively care for African American/Black care seekers. 12 Live Webinars + Two Self-Paced Learning Modules, a total of 14 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Available for Physicians
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/cultural-competency/striving-for-excellence-series
 
 
Other Items for your Newsletter:
 
Call for Nominations: Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award
As the Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award Endowment Campaign enters its final month, APA seeks nominations for the 2022 Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award.  This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of individuals and organizations to promote the human rights of populations with mental health needs by bringing attention to their work. Letters of nomination and supporting materials may be submitted to Omar Davis (odavis@psych.org) by Friday, October 8, 2021.
 
Call for Nominations: Research Awards & Bruno Lima Award in Disaster Psychiatry
Each year, the APA honors individuals for outstanding research and significant contributions to the field and practice of psychiatry that improve the lives of people with mental illness. These honors include the Alexander Gralnick Award, the Kempf Fund Award, the Blanche Ittleson Award, the Mrazek Award, the mentoring award, and the Nasrallah Family Award. Learn more about these exciting opportunities and the Bruno Lima Award in Disaster Psychiatry on the APA Award Page. Nominations should be sent to Laura Thompson at lthompson@psych.org in PDF format with the award name as the subject.
 
2020 Impact Report is Now Available
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s 2020 Impact Report is now ready to download and view. In a year that started with so many challenges but ended with so much hope, we are grateful for the Foundation’s generous donors, corporate and foundation partners who made our work possible!
https://apafdn.org/news-events/news/our-2020-impact-report-is-now-available
  
Roadmap to Psychiatric Residency Guide (New Edition)
View the newly updated guide for medical students. Not only are psychiatrists uniquely trained to consider the patient from a "whole person" perspective, but the field also includes a wide range of practice settings and diverse opportunities for sub-specialization.
    
What Is APA Doing in the Nation's Capital for Your Patients and Practice?
APA's Department of Government Relations has released its latest update on APA's advocacy activities regarding policies and regulations that affect your patients and profession.
https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/advocacy/july-2021-advocacy-update
 
New Publication: Mental Health Professionals Guide to their Role in the Criminal Justice System
Mental Health Professionals Guide to their Role in the Criminal Justice System is a new pocket guide from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation's Justice Team. The guide is intended as a resource for all mental health professionals on how they can better support individuals with mental illness who become entangled in the criminal justice system. The book is available for purchase now on the APA Publishing website.