Candidates for President-Elect Respond

The events of September 11 have changed our world. Psychiatry has a special role in this new order. Our knowledge and skills in dealing with stress give us special responsibilities in guiding public mental health policy. In the future, will APA respond?

APA has a structure designed for another era. This is demonstrated by the inability of the Board and medical director to effectively monitor expenses, with a resultant budgetary crisis. We are losing a thousand members a year; by 2010 only half of the nation’s psychiatrists may be members. With reduced members, APA will have limited power to advocate for our patients and the profession. With reduced income, its financial viability and that of its district branches may be threatened. APA must review the responsibilities and functioning of its organizational structure and staff and reshape them. In the absence of a new structure, we will be unable to fulfill our goals.