Incorporating Advocacy into Residency and Beyond

Sourav Sengupta, MD, MPHWestern Psychiatric Institute & Clinic

Agenda

• What is advocacy?• Why is advocacy important for

psychiatrists?• What were YOUR thoughts about

engaging in mental health advocacy?• Workshop Logistics

AccessInsurance

Stigma

Workforce

Patient Care

Policy

Funding

FamiliesCommunities

What can we do?

How do we address these issues?

a) Nothingb) Somethingc) Devote your life to the cause

a) Educate community groups and legislators about bullying.b) Partner with community coalition to decrease drug ODs.c) Lobby Congress for loan repayment programs.d) Sit on County Advisory Board developing housing policy for

homeless.e) Write a letter to the editor warning of MH state budget cuts.f) ANY of the above.

What do you mean, advocacy?

• Educate, support, recommend, push, preach, speak, argue, plead, influence… SPEAK UP!

• Clinical care is advocacy.• So are community, system, social interventions!

– Community– Governmental

– Media

• You are clinical experts! We need to develop advocacy expertise!

Why am I here?• Advocacy works!• It gets easier with practice!• What about those “head against the

wall” moments when we feel out of control, helpless?

• Everybody’s doing it…• Oh, yea… ACGME, ORT requirement

Can Advocacy Help w/ Burnout?

• Burnout = tired, stressed, helpless, only partially related to workload

• Reconnect (or remain connected) with our passion for psychiatry

• Empower ourselves to act (however small or stepwise) on things that make us feel helpless

• Is that worth some time and energy?

Advocacy Isn’t Just for Bleeding Hearts…

• $$$• Scope of practice• Professional standing in community• Networking

Keep informed…

• Mental health news in popular media• Professional, government, support org

news emails and newsletters• News Alerts emails• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)• Blogs• Committee, Task Force Conf. Calls, Minutes

Get Involved…

• Join your professional org• Join a committee• Find a niche! Be the go-to gal/guy!

• Work on projects, not positions• Develop leadership/ownership• Network, network, network!

Know your limits…

• Limit your hard time obligations• Focused, time-limited effort• Consider before committing!

“That sounds really interesting… Let me get back to you…”

• If comfortable, involve family & friends!• Involve colleagues and trainees!• Utilize professional org support staff• Remember – team efforts!

Thank you!

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.-Margaret Meade

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

-Harry S Truman