As spring blossoms into summer, we bring you the latest edition of our newsletter with perspectives from across APA’s membership. In this issue, we spotlight mental health equity champion, Sheryl Kataoka, M.D., M.S.H.S. Dr. Kataoka notes that “the beauty of psychiatry is that we value learning about how each person is unique” and underscores the importance of understanding the cultural and community contexts of our patients.
Dr. Owusu-Antwi provides insight into the social determinants of health impacting family resilience, Dr. Rastogi shares her experience with state advocacy, and Drs. Khaira and Shen call attention to rising suicide rates among Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. Additionally, Dr. Liggins explains the hidden benefits of medical education in the Caribbean, and SAMHSA MFP Fellows Drs. An, Dietrich and Salomon Petion reflect on their time at the APA Spring Leadership Summit.
"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." — Wilma Rudolph
Regina James, M.D.
Deputy Medical Director | Chief, Division of Diversity and Health Equity
American Psychiatric Association
Mental Health Equity Champion – Dr. Sheryl Kataoka
Sheryl Kataoka, M.D., M.S.H.S., is a child psychiatrist and health services researcher who has focused her career on improving mental health care for youth and families living in under-resourced communities.
The Mental Health Link – Home, Hope, and Mental Health: Social Determinants of Family Resilience
Dr. Owusu-Antwi is a dedicated PGY-3 resident and APAF Fellow with a strong commitment to advancing mental health care, advocacy, and health equity.
Advocacy in Action – Testifying at Your State Legislature
Dr. Rastogi is a board-certified psychiatrist and the Psychiatry Residency Program director at Creighton University School of Medicine — Phoenix, based at Valleywise Behavioral Health Center in Mesa, Arizona.
Supporting the Future of Psychiatry – Fellows’ Reflections on the APA Spring Leadership Summit
Read about the experiences of fellows who attended the APA Spring Leadership Summit.
Raise Your Voice — Breaking the Silence: Suicide and the Mental Health Burden Facing AAPI Youth
To combat the AAPI youth suicide crisis, it is essential to raise awareness about the mental health struggles faced by AAPI youth and work toward destigmatizing mental illness within these communities.
Culture Corner: The Hidden Benefits of Caribbean Medical Education
Dr. Liggins is the associate dean of clinical studies at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.