Welcome to the latest edition of our quarterly Diversity and Health Equity newsletter. In this edition, we open with an interview to mark the historic event of the first woman and first African American to lead the American Psychiatric Association. CEO and Medical Director, Dr. Marketa Wills shares key points from her remarkable journey, her vision for the APA, and insights into the future of psychiatry. We are also excited to highlight our Mental Health Equity Champion, Dr. Lisa Fortuna, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at UC Riverside School of Medicine. As a clinician scientist, Dr. Fortuna reminds us that to make "a real dent in health disparities and inequities" we must "share power with the community in figuring out how to address these needs." She also talks about the importance of spirituality in our mental well-being, so don’t miss this section.
We round out this edition by revisiting the Moynihan Report and its implications on psychiatry today with viewpoints shared by Drs. Walter Wilson Jr., Brian Smedley and Jonathan Shepherd; housing instability and mental health; the upcoming Moore Equity in Mental Health activities and culture corner focusing on Black gay pride.
"Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that the better for us all" – Erik Erikson.
Regina James, M.D.
Chief, Division of Diversity & Health Equity
Deputy Medical Director
American Psychiatric Association
An Interview with Dr. Marketa Wills, CEO & Medical Director of the American Psychiatric Association and Distinguished Alum of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program
The APA's new CEO and Medical Director Marketa Wills, M.D., M.B.A., was interviewed by Azza Hussein, M.A., with APA’s Division of Diversity and Health Equity (DDHE). Her appointment is a historic milestone as she is the first woman and Black American to hold this role.
Mental Health Equity Champion Spotlight: Dr. Lisa Fortuna
This quarter’s Mental Health Equity Champion is Dr. Lisa Fortuna, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the University of California Riverside, School of Medicine.
The Moynihan Report Revisited: Exploring Its Impact on Psychiatric Practice
On April 30, during the month of the report’s 59th anniversary, the APA‘s DDHE sponsored a discussion moderated by Walter Wilson Jr., the chair of the Council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities.
Welcoming the Newly Elected Minority and Underrepresented Caucus Leadership For the Term of 2024-2027
See the newly elected Minority and Underrepresented Caucus Leadership for the term of 2024-2027.
Housing Instability and Mental Health
In 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Section 1115 demonstration waiver opportunity to expand the tools available to states to address enrollee health-related social needs (HRSN).
Join Us for the Fourth Annual APA Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K!
In celebration of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the AP and the APA Foundation invite you to participate in the Fourth Annual APA Moore Equity in Mental Health 5K.
Culture Corner: Black Gay Pride
For many LGBTQ+ communities, June honors and recognizes the impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history. However, for the Black LGBTQ+ community, that celebration starts Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C., the birthplace of the Black Pride Movement, and marks the kickoff of Black Gay Pride celebrations across the U.S. and throughout the Black diaspora.