Washington, D.C. — In the lead-up to tonight’s State of the Union address, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) applauds the continued emphasis on mental health in the Biden Administration’s Unity Agenda. While the nation faces the opioid epidemic, an ongoing crisis in youth mental health, and barriers to access, mental health is truly an issue where bipartisan progress can and must be made.

While the details will be important in the implementation of the priorities, the APA is pleased to see among the Administration’s many stated goals:

• Supporting the health care workforce, especially as it pertains to the harmful effects of burnout.
• Strengthening parity enforcement, to ensure mental health care is treated the same as physical health care.
• Investing in crisis services and 988.
• Continuing access to telehealth services.
• Recruiting a more diverse mental health workforce.
• Fighting the opioid epidemic with evidence-based prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
• Supporting veterans and their families and reducing veteran suicide.

The APA is eager to continue to work with the Administration and Congress in ongoing efforts to help the millions of Americans who live with mental health or substance use disorders.

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 38,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA's vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.