Educating Policymakers  
About the Value of Psychology 

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For years, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has served as a critical source of funding for psychological research, supporting the work of psychologists at every stage of their careers. Yet the competition for government funding has intensified as neuroscience and genomics research has gained ground at the expense of behavioral approaches. In the face of these challenges, APA continues to advocate for research funding and to educate policymakers on Capitol Hill about the importance of psychological science.  

In October 2016, for instance, APA hosted a congressional briefing in cooperation with the Congressional Mental Health Caucus that gathered more than 100 federal agency officials, congressional staff and advocates to discuss the important role psychological science plays in mental health research and the need for a more balanced research funding agenda. The three featured psychologists discussed their latest research – which included insights into the treatment of schizophrenia, efforts to reduce suicidal behaviors in adolescents and combatting depression in older adults – and helped make the case for greater funding.  

Each year APA’s Science Government Relations Office defends federal funding for psychological science by submitting written testimony to House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees debating the federal budget. APA also regularly advocates for programs aimed at preventing and treating mental health disorders and advancing mental health research. For the 2016 budget, APA specifically highlighted its priorities for funding the National Institutes of Health, injury prevention and HIV programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and selected programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health Resources Services Administration and Department of Education. APA's statements were delivered to key subcommittees on Capitol Hill, including the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, as well as Commerce, Justice, Science and Defense committees in both chambers.  

But APA’s scientific advocacy efforts don’t stop there. In addition to regularly hosting high-level congressional briefings on everything from substance use to women veteran’s health to children’s cognitive development, APA organizes rallies and lobbying days, holds advocacy trainings, orchestrates letter-writing campaigns and speaks out on key regulatory issues of relevance to psychological science. For more details, read the Science Government Relations Office’s 2016 and 2017 annual reports.

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