WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 7, 2020 – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today congratulates Joseph Biden on winning the 2020 election as the next president of the United States, and Kamala Harris for becoming the first Black woman and first Indian American to be elected vice president.

“The APA congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their successful election, and we welcome the opportunity to work with the Biden Administration on concrete initiatives to increase access to high-quality mental health care for our patients,” said APA President Jeffrey Geller, M.D., M.P.H. “The APA has worked diligently this past year to expand the use of telehealth to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have pushed hard for enforcement of mental health parity and expanded funding for federal agencies tasked with addressing the mental health of the nation. Our work will continue as the impacts of COVID will be felt for years.”

“As psychiatrists, we offer ourselves as a resource to help this nation heal and come together following such a contentious electoral cycle,” Geller said. “Emotions are raw in this moment, and we continue to be strained by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of racial injustice. We call upon our fellow citizens to be calm and reject violence during these turbulent times, and for our elected officials to help maintain that calm through constructive dialogue.”

In addition to expanded use of telehealth and mental health funding, the APA will continue to advocate for continuing the protections of the Affordable Care Act and for the reversal of executive orders and regulations from the past Administration that have prevented individuals from receiving mental health treatment.

“We are in a mental health pandemic,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “Our members stand ready to work with the Biden Administration and members of both parties to ensure through effective and sound policy that every American who needs high-quality mental health and substance use care will be able to access it.”

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 38,800 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.