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Diversity & Health Equity

Our Vision

APA members represent a diverse and culturally responsive community of psychiatrists that promote mental health equity through the provision of quality mental health care to all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religious orientation, and/or disability status.

Our Core Values

We value equity, inclusion, respect, mentorship, and collaboration.

Our Mission

  • Develop programs and resources to bring awareness to and support the needs of evolving, diverse, underrepresented, and underserved patient populations.
  • Implement strategies to enrich the diverse representation of psychiatrists within the APA.
  • Collaborate across multiple medical and non-medical sectors to end disparities in mental health care.
Diversity and Health Equity at APA Spring/Summer 2025 Update #AchieveMentalHealthEquity Cover

What's New

Achieve Mental Health Equity Update: Spring/Summer 2025

Each quarter, APA highlights the expertise and accomplishments of its member leaders and presents upcoming activities and learning opportunities for diversity and health equity.

Read this month's update here

Featured Events and Initiatives

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Structural Racism Accountability Committee

The APA BOT Structural Racism Accountability Committee (SRAC) was formed in 2021 to ensure the recommendations of the 2020-2021 APA Presidential Task Force to Address Structural Racism Throughout Psychiatry (TFSR) are carried out.

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Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K

Register today! Join us July 20, 2024 for a Virtual 5K: Run, Walk, or Roll benefitting APA Foundation's Moore Equity in Mental Health Community Grants Program.

Explore Activities, Programs, and Initiatives

Featured News Article

Religion News Service: Treading on taboos, a psychiatrist trains Christians to see spiritual side of mental health

Moderated by Dr. Regina S. James, APA Deputy Medical Director and Chief of the Division of the Diversity and Health Equity, and Lead Pastor Ernest Daniels Jr. the APA in partnership with the Christ Community Church and Christian Mental Health Initiative hosted an APA Community Roundtable Discussion "It’s a Family Affair: Exploring the Intersection of Mental Health, Spirituality, and Faith."

Read more here

DEI News and Updates

  • July 15, 2025
  • Diversity News and Updates

Achieve Mental Health Equity Update: Spring/Summer 2025

In this issue, we spotlight mental health equity champion, Sheryl Kataoka, M.D., M.S.H.S. Dr. Kataoka notes that “the beauty of psychiatry is that we value learning about how each person is unique” and underscores the importance of understanding the cultural and community contexts of our patients.

  • July 10, 2025
  • Diversity News and Updates

Mental Health Equity Champion – Dr. Sheryl Kataoka

Sheryl Kataoka, M.D., M.S.H.S., is a child psychiatrist and health services researcher who has focused her career on improving mental health care for youth and families living in under-resourced communities.

  • July 10, 2025
  • Diversity News and Updates

Advocacy in Action – Testifying at Your State Legislature

Dr. Rastogi is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Psychiatry Residency Program director at Creighton University School of Medicine — Phoenix, based at Valleywise Behavioral Health Center in Mesa, Arizona.

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