Altha Stewart, M.D., president-elect of the American Psychiatric Foundation, appeared as a guest panelist on the PBS program "To the Contrary" on November 8. A segment of the news show, which is seen weekly by more than one million people, focused on minority mental health issues.

Stewart was part of a distinguished panel that discussed how doctors and other health care providers are attempting to destigmatize mental illness in minority communities and increase access to quality care. In addition to her role as president-elect of the foundation, Stewart is the co-chair of the APA Steering Committee on Disparities in Mental Health Care for Racial and Ethnic Minorities.

PBS decided to focus a segment of the show on minority mental health issues after learning of the foundation’s recently established Minority Mental Health Awards program. This program recognizes individuals and mental health programs that are undertaking efforts to raise awareness of mental illness in minority communities and increase access to care.

The American Psychiatric Foundation is the charitable and educational subsidiary of APA focused on raising awareness of mental illness and increasing access to quality care.

More information on the foundation is posted on the Web at www.PsychFoundation.org. ▪