Leading and Advocating 38,900 Members Strong

APA’s mission is to promote universal and equitable access to the highest quality care for people affected by mental illness, including substance use disorders, as well as to promote psychiatric education and research, advance and represent the profession of psychiatry, and serve the professional needs of its membership.

Advocacy is an integral and essential part of APA’s leadership responsibilities. The Board of Trustees discusses and sets broad advocacy policies and determines budgets for advocacy activities. APA’s Council on Advocacy and Government Relations advocates at the state and federal levels on issues important to APA and the field of psychiatry and creates programs to encourage members to become advocates as well. APA’s Assembly advocates for policy and positions that will advance psychiatry and support psychiatric physicians and patients. APA’s district branches advocate at the local and state levels; many issues relevant to psychiatry specifically and medicine more generally involve state laws and regulations.

Each part of APA’s governance structure plays an important and supportive role in forwarding our mission. However, advocacy is not just the task of our elected and appointed leaders—it is also the responsibility of each of us as members. Take the time to contact your APA leadership and let your thoughts be known. When APA’s next election rolls around next year, be sure to learn about the candidates and cast an informed vote. Also, remain informed on issues impacting your patients and practice and actively participate in amplifying APA’s efforts by engaging in social media, responding to APA’s Action Alerts, and joining the Congressional Advocacy Network. I want you to hold me and my fellow Board members accountable to do our best to advocate on your behalf. Let’s work together to lead and advocate as 38,900 members strong.

Visit https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/advocacy to become involved now or donate to APAPAC. The staff of APA’s Division of Advocacy, Policy, and Practice Advancement is eager to provide information and connect you to your members of Congress. While constant advocacy efforts are always needed, this election year makes your involvement that much more crucial. ■

Dionne Hart, M.D., is an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and provides clinical care services in multiple community settings. She is a member of APA’s Council on Advocacy and Government Relations (CAGR) and the incoming Area 4 trustee. She can be reached on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @lildocd. This article is part of a series by CAGR.