Washington, D.C. — Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) are proud to announce a new collaboration aimed at advancing mental health equity and improving behavioral health outcomes for Latino communities across the United States.
This strategic collaboration will focus on increasing access to culturally responsive mental health services and evidence-based information, expanding the pipeline of Latino mental health professionals, and addressing systemic barriers that contribute to mental health disparities in Latino populations.
“LMSA is committed to collaborating with organizations that share our values in advancing the health of Latino communities. Mental health remains a highly stigmatized yet critical issue in our community, and we are excited to partner with APA to raise awareness and drive meaningful change within our communities and beyond,” said Christopher Hernandez Salinas, Vice President of Operations.
Through this partnership, APA and LMSA will work together on a range of initiatives, including:
- Developing joint educational campaigns to raise awareness about mental health in Latino communities, such as APA’s Spanish-language resource website, LaSaludMental.org.
- Promoting polices that support culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
- Conducting research and data analysis on Latino behavioral health needs and outcomes.
- Supporting workforce development and training programs for Latino psychiatrists and mental and behavioral health professionals.
“This collaboration aligns with APA’s commitment to Latino mental health and with our focus on fostering development and connections with the next generation of psychiatrists,” said APA President Theresa Miskimen Rivera, M.D. “We believe that together, we can help address the unique challenges faced by Latino communities in accessing mental health.”
Latinos are the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S., yet they are significantly underrepresented in the behavioral health workforce and are less likely to receive mental health treatment compared to non-Latino whites. By leveraging the strengths and resources of both organizations, this partnership aims to promote equity, advance research, and ultimately improve mental health outcomes for Latinos nationwide.
Latino Medical Student Association
Founded in 1987, the Latino Medical Student Association is a non-profit organization with a mission to unify all Latino medical students into one organization, actively promote recruitment and retention of Latino students at all levels, educate medical students on Latino health issues, and advocate for the rights of Latinos in health care. Throughout the years, LMSA has successfully provided leadership opportunities for Latinos and promoted volunteerism in the Latino community. LMSA is composed of five regions: Northeast, Southwest, Northwest, Midwest and West. LMSA national executive board officers are elected each year and oversee the autonomous regional executive boards composed of 10 directors.
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.
