Washington, D.C. — The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) today announced a new collaboration aimed at strengthening mental health literacy and expanding access to culturally relevant, evidence-based resources for Latino communities in the Greater Philadelphia region.

Through this collaboration, APM joins the network of organizations supporting LaSaludMental.org, the APA’s Spanish-language platform dedicated to providing reliable, evidence-based mental health information for individuals, families and professionals. The organizations will work together to promote mental health education, reduce stigma and expand access to trusted resources in Spanish.

“Access to accurate and culturally relevant mental health information is essential to improving outcomes in Latino communities,” said Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D., president of the APA. “By collaborating with Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha, we are strengthening our commitment to meeting communities where they are and supporting families with reliable resources in Spanish.”

APM is a Latino-based nonprofit organization serving the Philadelphia region through comprehensive health, human services and community development programs. Founded in 1970, APM works to empower individuals and families by expanding access to housing, education, workforce development, and health services.

“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing mental health equity and ensuring our communities have access to trustworthy information in their language,” said Nilda Ruiz, president and CEO of APM.

Through this collaboration, the APA and APM will work together to:

• Share and disseminate existing APA resources through LaSaludMental.org, including information on common mental health conditions and treatment options.
• Integrate educational content into APM’s community outreach initiatives and digital platforms.
• Facilitate participation of APA member experts in APM programs, including community events, workshops and educational forums.
• Develop joint communications, including Spanish-language materials, to promote mental health awareness.

Latino communities continue to face barriers to mental health care, including stigma, language access challenges and shortages of culturally responsive providers. Collaborations like this aim to help reduce these gaps and improve access to reliable information and support.

Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha

APM is a Latino-based nonprofit serving the community since 1970, helping thousands of Pennsylvanians annually, with a combined budget of more than $57 million, employing over 400 multilingual, skilled and dedicated professionals, offering an extensive range of bilingual and culturally sensitive services at over 15 sites throughout Eastern North Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks and Cumberland counties. Our programs include affordable housing, early childhood education and daycare, foster care and adoption, child protective services, employment assistance, substance abuse treatment and behavioral health services for adults. For more information, please visit apmphila.org and follow on Instagram @apmbehavioralhealth 
 

American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in the country. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 39,200 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. For more information, please visit www.psychiatry.org.