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Advocacy in Psychiatry

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Advocacy is a fundamental responsibility of all physicians, and psychiatrists are uniquely positioned as advocates because of their expertise in understanding the intersection between mental health, social determinants, and systemic barriers. Defined as giving voice to advance patient and population health, physician advocacy spans a continuum of activities, including micro-level efforts focused on individual patients, meso-level initiatives targeting organizational and community improvements, and macro-level interventions addressing systemic changes. Advocacy training enhances competence in these domains, but significant gaps persist in advocacy integration into medical education. Although insufficient institutional support, lack of formalized requirements, and limited recognition in academic or career promotion hinder advocacy skill development, professional organizations provide opportunities to develop and refine advocacy competencies, obtain mentorship, and identify avenues for engaging with policy makers. Through advocacy, psychiatrists have made significant contributions at individual, community, and national levels-and continue to be essential in driving systemic change to improve health.

Source: FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.20250003

Authors: Eric Rafla-Yuan, Mandar Jadhav, Melissa A. Peace, Laura Willing

Institutions: Children's National, George Washington University, National Association of Community Health Centers

Language: English

Topic: Health, Medicine and Society

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W4411967850

FWCI:

Cites: 22

Cited by:

Related to: 10