Overview

The Mental Health Services Conference (MHSC) is being held virtually this October 14 to 15, 2021 on the theme “Sociopolitical Determinants: Practice, Policy and Implementation.” The purpose of the Mental Health Services Conference is to highlight educational programs and innovations in clinical services designed to ensure equal access to high-quality mental health care for all populations regardless of race/ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or geographical background.

Social determinants and health equity must be addressed at multiple levels including practice settings, educational activities, and organizations and institutions. This two-day conference features plenary key notes and breakout sessions from industry thought leaders. Each day focuses on broad themes that educate psychiatrists and other mental health clinicians and advocate on the sociopolitical determinants of mental health. In addition, attendees are provided with model programs, approaches, and schemas to aid with addressing sociopolitical issues while at the same time strategizing additional ways to increase access to high-quality mental health care to all patients—especially individuals who are members of marginalized groups. Attendees can expect to learn from national experts on topics like:

• Impact of social determinants of health in the care of those with serious mental illness
• How a system of care can influence the use of the social determinants of mental health to improve diagnosis and treatment planning
• The policy landscape and opportunities encouraging evidence-based medicine and the role it plays in addressing care equity

Educational Objectives

• Integrate new research and treatment strategies into clinical practice;
• Identify and improve mental health disparities in the community;
• Provide culturally competent care for diverse populations;
• Recognize how to bring new innovations into a variety of treatments to improve patient care;
• Advance and update skills in community psychiatry treatment;
• Integrate knowledge of current psychiatry into discussions with patients; and
• Identify barriers to care, including health service delivery issues.

Target Audience

The Mental Health Services Conference is designed for psychiatrists, primary care and other physicians, medical students and residents, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, addiction counselors, social workers, medical educators, administrators and policymakers, public health researchers, consumers, and family members.

Continuing Education Credit

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The APA designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.