News Releases

APA Responds to Passage of H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, and Separate Bill to Amend 42 CFR Part 2

Today the House of Representatives passed broad legislation intended to combat the opioid epidemic in the United States. H.R. 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act contains a number of initiatives to curb the epidemic including improved coverage and access to treatment for patients suffering from substance use disorders (SUD).

Mental Health Organizations Urge Administration to Halt Policy Separating Children and Parents at U.S. Border

Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and 17 other mental health organizations sent a letter to the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services, urging the administration to immediately end its policy of separating children from their parents at the U.S. border.

APA Member Patrice Harris, M.D., Elected President-Elect of AMA

Patrice Harris, M.D., M.A., a longtime psychiatrist-member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), was elected today as President-Elect of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Group of 6 Statement on Texas V United States

Our organizations, which represent a combined membership of more than 560,000 physician and medical student members are concerned about the Department of Justice’s decision to not defend the constitutionality of existing laws that extend patient protections to individuals in insurance markets as part of Texas v United States. The elimination of these protections could result in millions of people facing limited access to health care coverage and higher cost as a result of insurers being allowed to return to discriminatory coverage and pricing practices.

Joint Principles on Opioid Crisis Call for Comprehensive, Public Health Approach to Addiction Treatment

Leaders of six medical organizations representing more than 560,000 physicians and medical students called on Congress today to adopt policies that recognize opioid use disorder (OUD) as a chronic disease of the brain that requires comprehensive treatment. Doing so, the medical leaders said, would hold greater promise of successfully addressing the OUD epidemic.

APA Reacts to Increase in Suicide Rates, Calls for Access to Mental Health Care

Data released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that suicide rates have increased in almost every state from 1999-2016. CDC researchers found that more than half of the people who died by suicide did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition. Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S.

APA Calls on Administration to Defend Patient Protections in Affordable Care Act

In response to the recent decision by the Department of Justice not to defend the constitutionality of the patient protections provided in the Affordable Care Act in the federal lawsuit Texas v. United States, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued the following statement.

APA Statement Opposing Separation of Children from Parents at the Border

"As physician experts in mental health, the American Psychiatric Association opposes any policy that separates children from their parents at the United States border. Children depend on their parents for safety and support. Any forced separation is highly stressful for children and can cause lifelong trauma, as well as an increased risk of other mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."

International Coalition of Experts Releases an Alert Regarding 13 Reasons Why, Season 2

In 2017 Netflix released 13 Reasons Why to a global audience and extensive concern on the part of experts. A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found a significant increase in internet searches on suicide following the release of season 1. As a result and in preparation for the release of season 2 on May 18, 2018, an international coalition of leading experts in education, mental health and suicide prevention have released concerns and recommendations to youth, parents, educators and clinicians/professionals.

Dr. Altha Stewart Takes Office as APA President, the First African-American to Lead the Organization

Altha Stewart, M.D., began her one-year term as President of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) at the conclusion of the APA Annual Meeting in New York on May 9. At the same time Bruce Schwartz, M.D., began his term as APA President-elect.

Media Contacts

Glenn O'Neal, 202-459-9732
press@psych.org

Erin Connors, 202-609-7113
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