by John H Halpern, MD

The year 2020 challenged and changed all of us: the COVID19 pandemic combined with political turmoil… truly, every American can see that our way of life is evolving under volatile conditions. Lack of reform contributes to an almost daily wave of gun violence. Criminal justice is tasked with implementing overdue corrections to institutional racism but is pushed to do so because of public outrage. Fears vs COVID, vaccinations, masks, mask wearers, mask-refusers – how did so many Americans lose faith in public health? Distractions are everywhere. False information flows freely across social media and some mainstream media platforms. Possibly more than 2000 children in 2021 remain in U.S. Department of Homeland Security custody not reunified with their family: consider that the blanket “zero-tolerance” policy against illegal border crossers was implemented in spring of 2018. Lack of action compounds the damage of family separation lasting some 3 years and growing. Lack of action compounds the damage from racism, from gun violence, from all the difficult issues we collectively and individually experience as less than managed best. We can do better. And we must because these issues affect all our lives. We all have a voice but we have to use it to be heard.

The American Association for Social Psychiatry (AASP) started 50 years ago in 1971. Major issues then included war, civil rights, gender and sexual orientation rights, criminal justice reform, racism, health disparity, environment, discrimination…many of the same problems continue today now molded to the conditions of the present but these problems persist. And consider especially how such problems impact the health and mental health for the most disenfranchised and marginalized, like the poor or incarcerated or illegal. Like those unwitting children stripped from their parents starting in 2018. We can choose to ignore what has happened. What IS happening. But those who are damaged by these problems… what of them? And what of a doctor’s obligation for healing?

The American Association for Social Psychiatry champions these causes that also impact all of our patients and all of us because of our obligation for healing. Our membership includes psychiatrists and other physicians and welcomes membership from all who wish to join us to call for the greater changes yet to be achieved. We are not monolithic. We seek debate to inform our collective actions but not to delay taking any action. Our commitment to improve the health and welfare of our patients compels us then to raise our voices together. Together we seek to push forward what frustrates us individually. We value not just data. We value results. As we enter the second 50 years of the AASP, let us demand acceleration of progress. Social psychiatry calls for looking at all the surrounding phenomena to these “macro” problems to gain insight and, yes, then to encourage action.

We are grateful for the many who join this effort with us here and worldwide, such as our fellow World Association of Social Psychiatry members: their collaboration, insight, understanding, and suggestions help reveal what we might yet not fully see. Consider AASP membership! Help us raise awareness to the causes that impact your patients and communities! Find us at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association! Seek us out if our voice can help support yours! Do not let injustice remain silent.