APA MOORE Equity in Mental Health Roundtable Conversation "Mind the Gap: Overcoming Mental Health Stigma by Bridging the Divide Between Generations”-View Presentation

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The American Psychiatric Association (APA) hosted a More Equity in Mental Health roundtable focusing on young women's mental well-being, emphasizing intersectionality including race, ethnicity, rurality, and social factors. Data from the CDC reveal rising mental health challenges among adolescent girls, including persistent sadness, suicidal ideation, and attempts. Panelists highlighted the critical need for community-based mental health services, especially in rural areas where access to child psychiatrists is limited. Telepsychiatry and collaborative care models were cited as effective approaches to bridge service gaps.<br /><br />Social connections and positive relationships are vital protective factors against mental distress, while loneliness and unsafe environments exacerbate risks. Early identification through school-based programs and training for educators and community members was stressed to enable timely intervention. Programs like APA’s Notice, Talk, Act and universal suicide screening in schools help detect and address mental health issues early.<br /><br />Socioeconomic factors such as poverty disproportionately affect young women's mental health, with cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed care being essential. The panel emphasized validating patients’ cultural narratives and histories to foster resilience and healing, challenging harmful stereotypes like the “superwoman schema”. Strategies like mentoring, vulnerability, and normalizing rest were recommended to counter these pressures.<br /><br />For marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ youth, creating welcoming, respectful environments with affirmative language and specialized programs is crucial. The panel also discussed the rise in sexual trauma among young women, advocating standardized screening, trauma-informed multidisciplinary response teams, and sensitive law enforcement training to minimize retraumatization.<br /><br />Finally, concerns about Medicaid funding cuts were raised, urging advocacy to protect vulnerable populations’ access to care. The importance of forging interdisciplinary partnerships and leveraging technology to strengthen referral pathways and community networks was underscored. Overall, the discussion called for systemic, culturally competent, and community-centered approaches to support young women’s mental health equitably.

Keywords

American Psychiatric Association

mental health equity

young women's mental health

intersectionality

adolescent girls mental health

rural mental health services

telepsychiatry

community-based care

social connections

early mental health intervention

cultural sensitivity

LGBTQ+ youth mental health

trauma-informed care