APA Statement on the Make Our Children Healthy Again Report Recommendations
Washington, D.C. — The United States is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis in children and adolescents. Today’s Make Our Children Healthy Again report leaves a considerable amount of latitude in how each of the recommendations will be implemented. It is imperative that additional resources are directed towards evidence-based, peer-reviewed, research-backed solutions to address these complex issues facing our youth.
If the report's recommendation to examine psychiatric medication prescribing patterns is implemented, it is essential that psychiatric researchers are directly involved in the process. Their expertise is critical to contextualizing the data and understanding how it should be applied to patient care in the current health care system.
The American Psychiatric Association urges the administration, as it moves forward with the recommendations of this report, to base every action on rigorous scientific evidence, and involve psychiatrists and other medical leaders. Through these partnerships between the federal government and the scientific community, we can we deliver effective, patient-centered solutions that will ultimately safeguard the mental health and well-being of America’s children and adolescents.
Resources for the Public:
Childhood Disorders: Medication Guides for Parents
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.