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Susan Gurley, JD
Executive Director

ADAA 2022 News

Together in 2022, We Were Stronger 

There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” As the year draws to a close and we are all about to take a much-deserved break for the holidays before the start of a new year, I think about this proverbial wisdom and how it applies to ADAA’s work in 2022. 

Read about our 2022 Impact Report highlights and the new mental health career center we set up in 2022, and discover what we have in store for 2023


A Trend Worth Setting: Influencers Support ADAA and Mental Health Awareness

As we think about what we are grateful for, I want to personally thank all our mental health influencers. These generous people lend us their voices, their stories and experiences, and help us shed light on underreported issues like male body dysmorphia and the traumatic effects on the family and friends of a person who died by suicide. Some even use their incredible talents in sports to reach individuals around the world.  Read more.

Psychiatric Times Announces the Addition of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America to its Strategic Alliance Partnership Program - December 6 2022

Psychiatric Times™, the #1 psychiatric publication in the United States, today announced that it has added the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) to its Strategic Alliance Partnership (SAP) program. Read the press release.


Minding Depression: Calling on Screening and Treatment to Narrow the Gap September 23, 2022

A newly published study on depression in the American Journal for Preventive Medicine reports that from 2015 to 2020 the prevalence of depression in the United States, particularly among adolescents and young adults in the nation, increased and that the pandemic contributed to a worsening mental health crisis. Although the number one mental health illness in the US is on the rise, there is a widening gap in treatment, putting more people at risk of potentially desperate or dangerous situations. Read more.


Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Taps Ketchum as Agency of Record in Time of Growing Mental Health Need 
September 16, 2022

ADAA is delighted to announce that it has selected communications consultancy Ketchum as its agency of record (AOR) following a competitive pitch. The team from Ketchum’s Washington, D.C., marketplace will lead the account, and the remit includes enterprise communications, executive visibility, earned and paid social media and digital campaigns, corporate partnerships, and event planning — including for the ADAA Annual Conference on April 13-16, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

“The Ketchum team is uniquely qualified to help our organization at this important time of growth and transition,” said Susan Gurley, executive director, ADAA. “Their professional experience — and passion — for our work is why we selected them as our partners. The creativity of their ideas and strategic approach will help us advance our mission to find new treatments and, one day, prevent and cure anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD and co-occurring disorders.” Read the press release.
 


BIPOC Mental Health Trends and Disparities - April 2022 Blog

Many members of BIPOC communities deal with stress and trauma that can stem from specific socioeconomic struggles that consciously and subconsciously impact the everyday lives of the community. Even though mental health experiences are unique to each person, there are a few trends within the BIPOC community that highlight similar disparities and barriers throughout each ethnic group. Read more.


Redefine and Unlearn: BIPOC Youth Destigmatize Mental Health in their Community - April 2022 Blog

In a world that is constantly evolving, BIPOC youth are actively working to change the way their communities acknowledge and embrace mental health. Youth (defined here as those between the ages of 15 to 24) are redefining what mental health means and are trying to “unlearn” some of the negative stigmas that have been taught or demonstrated by older generations. Read the full blog.


ADAA Announces Early Career Board Member - Mbemba Jabbi, PhD - February 28, 2022

ADAA is pleased to announce that Mbemba Jabbi, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Dell Medical School, has been selected to join the ADAA board for a two-year term. The Early Career Board member works with early-career professionals and students to ensure that the early career voice of ADAA’s membership is fully represented. Read the full announcement.


Celebrating BIPOC Mental Health Trailblazers

Too often, mental health trailblazers within BIPOC communities are overlooked and underappreciated for their contribution to psychology, health and medicine. Let’s take the time to celebrate these trailblazers and their endless work and legacies throughout the mental health industry. Read the blog post.


ADAA Welcomes New Board President Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD - January 1, 2022

ADAA is pleased to announce that Charles B. Nemeroff, MD, PhD has assumed the role of President of the ADAA Board of Directors (BOD) effective January 1, 2022. Dr. Nemeroff will serve a two-year term. Dr. Nemeroff succeeds Luana Marques, PhD who served as ADAA BOD President from 2019-2021. Dr. Marques will now serve as Immediate Past Board Chair.  Read the full press release.


ADAA Announces Several New Board Appointments for 2022 - January 1, 2022

We enthusiastically share the news that Helen Blair Simpson, MD, PhD has been appointed Board President-Elect effective January 1, 2022. Dr. Simpson will take over as ADAA’s President in 2024.

We are also pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members whose tenure began January 1, 2022. Please join us in welcoming:

A special thank you to ADAA members Carmela Alcántara, PhD and Mbemba Jabbi, PhD for serving on the ADAA board seat nominating committee. We very much appreciate their time and thoughtful participation.

The ADAA Board and staff also extend their sincere appreciation to the following board members whose terms ended December 31.

Many thanks to Beth Salcedo, MD, Scott Rauch, MD and Risa Weisberg, PhD for their board service and commitment.  Read the full press release here.


Setting New Year’s Resolutions: 3 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health - January 2022 Blog

Many of us struggle with perfectionism and deciding on New Year’s resolutions can add stress to a process that’s supposed to be helpful. Fortunately, evidence shows that optimal goal setting promotes mental health when the goals are measurable, obtainable, psychologically safe, and prioritize health and wellness.  Read more.

 

ADAA 2021 News

The Science of Gratitude: 5 Easy Practices for November - Blog Post - November 9, 2021

While the pressure of the month of November might cause anxiety, there actually might be something to those outpourings of gratitude. Science supports how consciously practicing gratitude can help you feel better, attain stronger mental health outcomes, and even curb anxiety. Read More.


Depression Across the Lifespan: Depression⁠—and its Treatments⁠—are Different for Each Life Stage - Blog Post - October 18, 2021

The concept of “depression across the lifespan” means that depression affects people differently depending on their life stage. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is hosting a professional continuing education Fall Forum on depression across the lifespan on October 21, 2021.  Read more.


ADAA Board of Directors Seeks Applications For Three Open Board Seats - September 9, 2021

Help Lead ADAA into the Future!

The ADAA Board of Directors, the governing body of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), is a volunteer group of members who are clinicians, researchers, and others with a commitment to advancing treatment, research, training, and education about anxiety disorders and depression.

The ADAA Board of Directors has three open board seats and will be selecting three candidates to serve on the Board effective January 1, 2022. Board terms are 2 years each. Applicants must be members in good standing. The deadline to apply is midnight EST, Wednesday, October 13, 2021.  Learn more and apply.


ADAA Depression and Anxiety Journal 2020 Impact Factor Released

ADAA is delighted to announce that its professional journal, Depression and Anxiety, received a 6.5 Impact Factor for 2020 per the ISI Journal Citation Reports. This is a 38 percent increase from the previous Impact Factor. Additionally, the journal ranks 22 of 156 in psychiatry journals; 8 of 77 in psychology journals; 10 of 131 for psychology clinical journals, and 15 of 143 for psychiatry social science journals. Read the full press release.


ADAA Opens it's 2022 Denver Annual Conference Submissions Portal - July 2021

ADAA is now accepting submissions for Master Clinicians, Roundtables, Symposia, Workshops, Posters, the Donald F. Klein Early Career Investigator Award, and the Career Development Leadership Program (CDLP). Submit today and join us March 17-21 in Denver.


It's Official - ADAA's New Website Has Launched! - March 2021

Last year we set out to make a better experience for anyone needing information and support for anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, depression, and co-occurring disorders. After a lot of work behind the scenes, including feedback from you, we’re excited to reveal our new website and brand refresh. Read more.


HealthWell Foundation on Launch of Behavioral Health Fund to Assist COVID-19 Frontline Health Care Workers

"...We applaud the HealthWell Foundation for recognizing the paramount need for frontline health care workers who are going to heroic measures to save the lives of those impacted by COVID-19 by providing a vital financial resource that will enable them to obtain critical behavioral health services..." Susan Gurley, ADAA Executive Director, February 10, 2021. Read the full press release.


February 2021

“Train lay people to be the frontline — give people someone to talk to,” Gurley says. “Just someone who says, ‘How are you?’ is worth so much. People can become self-absorbed, and we have to mitigate against that. One has an obligation to reach out and check on people and be really present and mindful..." Susan Gurley, ADAA Executive Director -  Bracing for the Next Wave, Medium.com, February 2021

ADAA 2020 News

A Message from the ADAA Board of Directors

January 1, 2020

ADAA is pleased to announce that Krystal Lewis, PhD has joined the ADAA Board of Directors (BOD) effective January 1, 2021. Dr. Lewis will serve a two-year term. As the ADAA BOD wishes to enhance its engagement with early career professionals and seeks to have the early career voice fully represented and involved, Dr. Lewis assumes the board seat designated for an early career professional. Read the full news release here.


October 27, 2020

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of a donor-funded, diversity membership scholarship for ADAA that will run through December 31, 2021. More than 30 applications were received and 10 candidates were selected.  We extend special thanks to ADAA member Krystal Lewis, PhD and the ADAA Board for funding these scholarships. 

  • Matthew Brown, MS 
  • Terence Ching, MS, PhD Candidate 
  • Christy DaBreo-Otero, MA 
  • Jenny Jung-Mi Kim Goebel, MS, LCSW
  • Tamela Hughes, BS 
  • Dominique Luisa La Barrie
  • Kevin Narine, BA
  • Stephanie Ortiz Domenech, PhD Candidate
  • Eve Rosenfeld, MA 
  • Margaret White, MS, PhD Candidate

A Message from the ADAA Board of Directors

ADAA Stands Against Racism

June 4, 2020

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s (ADAA) mission is more critical than ever. Since ADAA’s founding 40 years ago, we have been committed to ensuring that everyone who struggles with an anxiety disorder, depression or PTSD can obtain the resources they need to live healthier and more productive lives. 
 
Over the last few months, we have seen that many of our poorest neighborhoods and communities of color have suffered disproportionately from the spread of COVID-19. Many of these same marginalized communities are also grappling with economic uncertainty, and now with the recent killing of George Floyd following so many other killings of African Americans, with increased mental health issues. ADAA’s mental health experts understand that exposure to these pervasive racial traumas and stressors are detrimental to one’s mental health. We also know that many people of color who suffer from mental health issues also experience less access to care and services.  Read the full statement here.

 


ADAA Names New Board President

ADAA is pleased to announce that Luana Marques, PhD has assumed the role of President of the ADAA Board of Directors (BOD) effective January 1, 2020. Dr. Marques will serve a two-year term. Dr. Marques succeeds Beth Salcedo, MD, who served as ADAA BOD President from 2017-2019. Dr. Salcedo will now serve as Immediate Past Board Chair. Dr. Marques has been an active member of ADAA since 2008 and has served on the Board since 2016. Dr. Marques is an ADAA Clinical Fellow, serves as the Board Liaison to the ADAA Annual Conference Committee, the Professional Education Committee, the PTSD Special Interest Group and the Multicultural Advances Special Interest Group. Read more.