Diversity and Health Equity Track Seeks to Help Embed Equity in Clinical Practice

APA’s 2023 Annual Meeting is an opportunity to shape the future of mental health for all through innovation, collaboration, dialogue, and discussion.

With “all” being a key word, APA strives to promote a health care system where equity is at the core of patient and family engagement, and clinicians continue to address inequities by demonstrating culturally responsive approaches that honor the lived experiences of their patients.

This year the Diversity and Health Equity Track presents the question, How can we use innovation and collaboration to create a future with mental health equity in mind?

These sessions will provide practical examples and opportunities for discussion with peers on how to embed equity in your practice. The APA Division of Diversity and Health Equity (DDHE) will host six of these sessions that will highlight contemporary issues in mental health and approaches to addressing inequities through various levels of the social-ecological framework. Here are the session titles and a brief description:

• Are You Here to Help? The Intersection of Mental Health, Policing, and Race in a Crisis Response will discuss innovative solutions to decrease the role of police in responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis while incorporating the perspectives of those with lived experience. Session chair: Dionne Hart, M.D.

• Translating Between the Social and Political Determinants of Health will provide a roadmap to deepen participants’ perspective of the social determinants of mental health (SDoMH) and help them recognize their ability to advocate for a future with a greater focus on SDoMH through local, state, and federal governments. Session chair: Mandar Jadhav, M.D.

• The Cumulative Effect of Rural Residence, Mental Health Care Disparities, and Communities of Color will discuss innovative and collaborative strategies to address rural mental health care disparities in Black, Indigenous, and Latino rural communities, while considering lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Session chair: Richard Lawrence Merkel Jr., M.D., Ph.D.

• Creating Spanish/English Networks to Support Mental Health of Hispanic/Latinx Communities will discuss collaborative and community-engaged approaches to promote mental health in Spanish-speaking communities locally, nationally, and internationally through broad networks, media, and other forms of outreach. Session chair: Ruby C. Castilla-Puentes, M.D., Dr.P.H., M.B.A.

• The Role of Gender-Affirming Care in Mitigating Mental Health Disparities in Transgender Youth will review the latest information on mental health challenges affecting transgender youth and highlight how clinicians can better support their patients and create a more equitable mental health care environment for future generations. Session chair: Walter E. Wilson Jr., M.D., M.H.A.

• The Mental Health Impacts of Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality on Families will highlight ways psychiatrists and other frontline maternal health practitioners can help promote mental health equity for birthing persons of color and support a more mentally healthy future for families. Session chair: APA Division of Diversity and Health Equity.

These sessions will provide attendees with vital information, tools, and engagement opportunities. It is hoped that they will motivate you to bring your unique perspectives and experiences to the table as we continue to map our path to achieving mental health equity for all. ■