Federal News & Issues

APA and AACAP Deeply Concerned Over Reports that Parents of Children Separated from Families at U.S. Border Cannot be Found

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 22, 2020 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry today issued the following statement in response to media reports that the parents of 545 migrant children separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border can no longer be found.

We are appalled by the reports, based on legal filings, that authorities are unable to find the parents of 545 children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border under this administration’s punitive “Zero-Tolerance” policy.

The APA and AACAP have long spoken out against the harmful practice of separating children from their parents. It is well-documented in psychiatric literature that even brief family separations can cause significant and often irreparable harm to children,...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Oct 22, 2020

New APA Poll Shows Surge in Anxiety Among Americans Top Causes Are Safety, COVID-19, Health, Gun Violence, and the Upcoming Election

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 21, 2020 – According to a new public opinion poll released today by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 62% of Americans feel more anxious than they did at this time last year. That marks a sizable increase over APA polls of the past three years, in which the number has ranged between 32% and 39%.

When asked what made them extremely or somewhat anxious, Americans said the top issues were: keeping themselves and their family safe (80%), COVID-19 (75%), their health (73%), gun violence (73%) and the upcoming presidential election (72%).

“It’s not surprising that more Americans are anxious, given the circumstances we all find ourselves in this year,” said APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M....

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Oct 21, 2020

New APA Poll Reveals That Americans are Increasingly Anxious About Climate Change’s Impact on Planet, Mental Health

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 21, 2020 – More than two-thirds of Americans (67%) are somewhat or extremely anxious about the impact of climate change on the planet, and more than half (51%) are somewhat or extremely anxious about the impact of climate change on their own mental health, according to a new poll out today from the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

The year 2020 saw devastating fires throughout the western U.S. as well as an intense tropical storm season impacting the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf Coast. Scientists widely agree that climate change is playing an increasing role in the severity of natural disasters. The percentage of Americans who agree climate change is probably or definitely affecting mental health...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Oct 21, 2020

APA Congratulates Its Members Elected as Officers to the Executive Committee and Board of the World Psychiatric Association

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 16, 2020 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today announced that three of its members have been elected to leadership positions at the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). Two will join the Executive Committee for six-year terms as officers of the WPA: APA Past President Paul Summergrad, M.D., will serve as the WPA Secretary for Finances; and Edmond Pi, M.D., who previously served as the WPA USA Zone 2 Representative and vice chair of the APA Scientific Program Committee will serve as WPA Secretary for Scientific Meetings. Bernardo Ng, M.D., immediate past chair of the APA Council on International Psychiatry and Global Health was elected as the WPA Zone 2 (United States) Representative for a three-year term.

The WPA, a global association representing 140 psychiatric societies in 120 countries...

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Author: mbourdase - Published: Oct 17, 2020

New App Will Help People with Serious Mental Illness Develop a Crisis Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 7, 2020 – A new mobile app, My Mental Health Crisis Plan, allows individuals who have serious mental illness to create a plan to guide their treatment during a mental health crisis. The app was developed by SMI Adviser, an initiative administered by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The app provides an easy step-by-step process for individuals to create and share a psychiatric advance directive (PAD). A PAD is a legal document that includes a list of instructions and preferences that the individual wishes to be followed in case of a mental health crisis. My Mental Health Crisis Plan allows individuals with serious mental illness to:

  • Clearly state treatment preferences, including...
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Author: mbourdase - Published: Oct 7, 2020

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