What's New at the APA

• APA released a statement applauding White House action to strengthen parity enforcement. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) has been federal law since 2008, yet many patients still face challenges getting coverage for mental health care services. You can read the full statement here.

• Americans who engage in creative activities on a weekly basis report better mental health, according to the latest Healthy Minds Monthly public opinion poll from APA and Morning Consult. Almost half (46%) of Americans use creative activities like writing, painting or music to relieve stress or anxiety. Americans who engaged in creative activities more frequently tended to rate their mental health better than those that engage in them less often. You can read more about this month's poll results here.

Visit APA's Newsroom for the latest news releases, statements, blogs, monthly public opinion poll results, and other information.

APA Communications Update

Videos for Sharing:

APA's Youtube channel has a plethora of mental health focused videos you can use on social media or share elsewhere. Check out our playlist of Spanish language mental health explainers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyBKDUY3d-c&list=PLf3_-c0tpWquvGObsROanF_Eb6jgS0eR2
 

Briefs for Your Newsletter

August Course of the Month – Apps and Innovations to Support the Practice of Psychiatry: Current and Future Developments

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly accelerated the adoption and implementation of many technologies in the practice of psychiatry, such as emergency adoption of video conferencing technologies, adjunctive services such as psychiatric applications on smartphones, providing psychotherapy and medication management via secure messaging or AI-driven chatbots, and social media and professional online networks connecting patients to available resources and facilitated wellness. This course will review current best practices as well as future developments such as digital therapeutics and predictive analytics in the future psychiatric practice.

Click here to access the Course of the Month and sign up for updates about this free member benefit.

2023 APA Mental Health Services Conference Scientific Program Now Available

The Mental Health Services Conference will take place from Thursday, October 12, through Saturday, October 14. You can now review sessions planned for this year's conference. LEARN MORE

Presidential Initiative on Addiction – Vaping & E-Cigarettes

APA President Dr. Petros Levounis has made public information campaigns on confronting addiction the focus of his presidential year. The currently ongoing vaping & e-cigarettes campaign aims to give the public information and resources on the risks of vaping and how to quit, including infographics and an animated explainer video on the potential harms of vaping. More information on vaping & e-cigarettes, and other related issues like cannabis are available on Psychiatry.org.

Submit Abstracts for APA's 2024 Annual Meeting

Abstract submissions are now being accepted for APA's 2024 Annual Meeting, which will take place May 4 to 8 in New York, N.Y. The theme of the meeting is "Confronting Addiction From Prevention to Treatment." Submit your ideas for general sessions, courses, and posters to the biggest psychiatric meeting of the year. LEARN MORE

Nominations Now Open for APA Components and Board of Trustees

APA's success hinges on the expertise, knowledge, and input of its members. Learn more about APA leadership opportunities and nominate yourself or a colleague by Tuesday, August 15, for component service and Friday, September 1, for the Board of Trustees. LEARN MORE

Nominations Invited for APA Awards

APA recognizes psychiatrists and mental health advocates who have made exceptional contributions to psychiatry and mental health in a range of categories. Visit the APA awards webpage for award categories and nomination criteria. LEARN MORE

Be a part of APA's Speakers Bureau

APA is seeking members who are active and engaged in Component activities to be a part of APA's Speaker's Bureau. The Speaker's Bureau is aimed at diversifying and broadening APA's bench of public-facing experts. In addition to traditional media requests, APA has a number of other opportunities available for members who are willing to share their expertise. This includes writing blogs on important mental health topics, providing government testimony, and participation in social media events, like Twitter chats, Instagram live, and more.

Members of the APA Speaker's Bureau, as an internal influencer group, will also be asked to amplify APA's voice by promoting public education initiatives via social media and engaging during APA social media events.

Simply scan QR code (see attached document) to access the speaker's bureau form and add your voice. 

Note: Any personal information shared is kept strictly confidential and only able to be accessed by APA Communications staff. We ask for this information so that we can get a decent picture of who our experts are and make the best match for a given opportunity. Participation in this project does not guarantee that a member will be contacted for a media interview or other public-facing opportunity.

Please contact James Carty (jcarty@psych.org) with any questions you may have.