News and Updates
108 Results
Achieve Mental Health Equity Update: Summer/Fall 2025
In this issue, we highlight mental health equity champion Dr. Helen Blaisdell-Brennan. She shares her perspective on several areas, from integrating cultural humility and respect for traditional Hawaiian and Pacific Islander healing practices into psychiatric care to the most pressing systemic barriers to achieving mental health equity in Hawaii.
Mental Health Equity Champion Spotlight — Dr. Helen Blaisdell-Brennan
Dr. Blaisdell-Brennan is a psychiatrist educated and trained at Harvard University, the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and the Neuropsychiatric Institute Residency Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. Combining medicine, science, and a love for Hawaii, Dr. Blaisdell-Brennan is dedicated to assisting individuals with mental health concerns.
The Mental Health Link Social Determinants of Mental Health in Rural Communities
Dr. Dia Arpon is a psychiatrist in Delaware who has been practicing since 2006. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Philadelphia–Hahnemann School of Medicine, now Drexel University College of Medicine.
Advocacy in Action Partnering to Protect Mental Health Care in Nursing Homes
Dr. Alex Threlfall is a board-certified geriatric psychiatrist and medical director for MarinHealth’s Older Adult and General Adult PHP/IOP. He is an associate clinical professor (volunteer) in the UCSF Family Medicine Department for the Sutter-Santa Rosa Community Health Family Medicine Residency and on the clinical faculty for the SRCH Advanced Practice Clinician fellowship.
Supporting the Future of Psychiatry Highlights from the Future Leaders Academy
In June, the American Psychiatric Association SAMHSA MFP team cohosted the second annual Future Leaders Academy in San Francisco, California, with UCSF and UC Davis, for students in the Future Leaders in Psychiatry Program (FLIPP) and the Rising Psychiatry Scholars Program (RPSP).
Raise Your Voice Nourishing Moms, Nurturing Minds: The Link Between Nutrition and Maternal Mental Health
Over the past few years, there has been a growing awareness of the use of nutrition as a treatment modality for mental health issues. As scientific research continues to explore the relationship between food and brain function, it has become increasingly evident that dietary patterns can influence emotional well-being, cognitive performance, and even the onset and severity of mood disorders.
APA MOORE Equity in Mental Health Podcast Series: Breaking the Silence: Addressing Youth Suicide
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24, with rates increasing by a staggering 52% over the past two decades. This vulnerable age group also accounts for the highest number of emergency room visits related to self-harm.
Culture Corner: The Art of Living in Hózhó: Navajo Wisdom for a Balanced Life
The concept of Hózhó embodies a profound and vital philosophy at the heart of the Diné (Navajo) culture, encapsulating beauty, harmony, balance, and order. Hózhó signifies a state of being in which every aspect of existence — physical, spiritual, emotional, communal, and familial — harmonizes.
You Are Not a Burden: A Conversation on Youth Suicide, Stigma, and the Power of Community
In a dialogue for the American Psychiatric Association’s Moore Equity podcast series: Breaking the Silence, Dr. Pratik Bahekar, President of the APA’s Caucus of LGBTQ+ psychiatrists, and child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Melvin Oatis, explored critical issues surrounding LGBTQ+ youth suicide.
Embracing Diversity and Healing: Dr. Rama Rao on Child Psychiatry, Family, and Suicide Prevention
In a recent conversation, Dr. Rama Rao—a leading voice in psychiatry with over five decades of experience—joined the president of the American Psychiatric Association’s Caucus of International Medical Graduate (IMG) Psychiatrists to reflect on his journey and shed light on the growing suicide crisis among immigrant youth.
Mental Health Insights from APA Podcast Series on Youth Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention
In a compelling discussion available in English and Spanish for the Breaking the Silence podcast series, APA Hispanic Caucus President, Dr. Ruby Castilla-Puentes, sat down with child psychiatrist Dr. Tatiana Falcone to delve into the crisis of youth suicide, with particular emphasis on Hispanic communities.
The Role of Community and Lived Experience in Suicide Prevention: A Conversation with Dr. Michele Reid
In a recent podcast episode Breaking the Silence: Addressing Youth Suicide, Dr. Jonathan Shepherd, President of the Black Caucus of the American Psychiatric Association, spoke with Dr. Michele Reid, Vice President and COO at CNS Healthcare, focusing on addressing youth suicide from a community mental health perspective.