APNA Annual Conference: A program that’s PMH nurse approved
Registration is open for the APNA 39th Annual Conference in New Orleans this October 15-18. Attend and earn up to 115+ contact hours during and after the conference with tools, resources, and evidence-based strategies you can immediately apply in your clinical setting – while enjoying all New Orleans has to offer! Check out these sessions!

Boost your suicide prevention support
Add to your skills with new courses tailored to support specific communities. Earn contact hours, get actionable tools, and gain clinical confidence as you learn from top experts in the field. What will I add to my skill set?

Transform your care with respectful language
Words can shape relationships – and respectful language can empower, inspire, and support. Discover practical tips from members of the APNA Recovery Council Steering Committee. Explore the advice

Have you voted in the APNA National Elections yet?
Shape the direction of APNA when you choose from the candidates for the APNA Board of Directors and the APNA Nominating Committee. I’ll make my vote

A recent study has shown that peer support groups can be a game-changer for improving the well-being of nurses, particularly those in mental health settings, reported Nurse.org. Learn more about peer support

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a troubling decline in mental health among mothers in the U.S. Notable findings included a drop in the percentage of mothers reporting “excellent” mental health, from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023. Reports of “excellent” physical health also declined, from 28% to 24%. Additionally, the number of mothers rating their mental health as “fair/poor” increased. Full story

SAMHSA has released a Dear Colleague letter offering guidance on benzodiazepine use in older adults. Benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed for anxiety and insomnia, but older adults face higher risks of adverse events from long-term use. The letter highlights the public health importance of reducing long-term benzodiazepine use among older adults and promotes patient-centered, evidence-informed strategies for evaluating ongoing benzodiazepine use. Full story

A study published in Nature Aging has identified specific microRNAs, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression within cells, that likely contribute to bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Parkinson’s disease. Full story

Spending too much time on screens may cause emotional and behavioral problems in children, and those problems can lead to even more screen use, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Full story

The U.S. House of Representatives took action to improve dementia workforce preparedness in communities across the nation by reintroducing the bipartisan Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act. The legislation will empower primary care providers to better diagnose Alzheimer’s and other dementia and deliver high-quality, person-centered care in community-based settings. Full story

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 by a strong bipartisan vote of 366–57. The bill reauthorizes billions of dollars for critical programs that target overdose prevention. Full story

The National Academies will hold a hybrid public workshop on June 27 to discuss the recent report, Blueprint for a National Prevention Infrastructure for Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders. Speakers, including practitioners and researchers in mental, emotional, and behavioral disorder prevention, will explore the report’s recommendations to build on existing knowledge and leverage new opportunities. Learn more and register

Click here to see letters APNA has signed on to as a part of its participation in coalitions that further policy for nursing and mental health.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.