Mental Health Disparities: Diverse Populations

Racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to multiple factors including inaccessibility of high quality mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.

Working with African American/Black Patients

Learn more working with African American patients, including demographics, significant history, best practices and disparities.

Gender-Affirming Therapy

View basic concerts when providing psychotherapy to those who are gender diverse.

APA Public Opinion Poll 2021 Access to Care

View results of the Public Opinion Poll on access to care released in May 2021.

Other Vulnerable Populations

Browse educational content specific to other vulnerable populations or about general diversity issues.

Is the Over-Organization of Youth Sports Taking Away from Their Benefit?

• Patients and Families

Although sports undoubtedly contribute to the positive health and well-being of student athletes, recent cultural changes in youth sports including overtraining, early sport specialization, and increased parental pressure are contributing to burnout and pushing student athletes out of sports.

Honoring Women’s Contributions to Psychiatry Research

All across the field of psychiatry, women make an impact every day in furthering our understanding of the brain and how to treat mental health and substance use disorders. In recognition of Women’s History Month, APA is highlighting six women whose research contributions have meant better outcomes for people with mental illness.

Addressing the Public Mental Health Challenge of Climate Change

• Patients and Families, Public awareness, Trauma

For most Americans, the face of climate change is extreme weather and natural disasters. More than 40% of Americans live in a county impacted by a major natural disaster in the last year. In the last seven years, natural disasters cost the United States more than a trillion dollars in damage and more than 5,000 lives were lost.

Positive Psychiatry: Promoting Well-Being

Positive psychiatry focuses on the positive aspects of mental health. It is defined as the “science and practice of psychiatry that focuses on the study and promotion of mental health and well-being through enhancement of positive psychosocial factors,” in a recent special report in Psychiatric News by former APA President Dilip V. Jeste, M.D. As Dr. Jeste notes, while about 20% of people are affected by mental disorders, “100% of people have mental health including some positive traits. Positiv

Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

Learn about Alzheimer's, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to your questions.

Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders

Learn about disruptive, impulse control and conduct disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options and answers to common questions.

Sleep Disorders

Learn about sleep disorders, including symptoms, risk factors, treatment options, and answers to your questions.