Southern California PSYCHIATRIST May 2025

President’s Column – A Year of Advocacy, Community, and Gratitude

by Galya Rees, MD

Dear SCPS Members,

It has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life to serve as SCPS president in the past year. Thank you, sincerely, for your support, your trust, and your dedication to our patients and our profession.

Advocacy

SCPS remained deeply engaged in psychiatric advocacy in California and beyond over the past year. We transformed the expertise of our SCPS members into numerous CSAP-sponsored bills that we hope will lead to stronger mental health policy statewide. This work was orchestrated through several SCPS committees—fine-tuned by our Government Affairs Committee and Council—then further refined at CSAP with the guidance of our lobbyists and the brilliant representatives from all California DBs. Together, we collaborated with legislators to develop the bills now under review in Sacramento. A special shoutout goes to Dr. Emily Wood, who has been testifying on these bills in Sacramento.

Federally, we tackled complex issues including access to stimulants, Clozapine, and telepsychiatry. Recently, we have been focused on the mental health implications of new federal executive orders and proposed cuts. These federal changes have the potential to have a huge impact on mental health in California, and we have been working closely with APA on these concerns.

My final ask of all of you, as SCPS president, is to please sign up to receive the APA action alerts here: https://advocacy.psychiatry.org/sign-up-for-alerts-and-update/.  APA has made acting on these alerts as straightforward as possible. Please join me in defending mental health by acting on these alerts.

As Dr. Manal Khan so wisely put it: “Advocacy is when activism curates its approach (and titrates it) to placate an oppressive system’s sensitivities.” The fine balance between boldness and strategy has defined our work this year. Please continue to use your voice to advocate for those who can’t. Our voices matter!

Education and Trainee Engagement

This year, we expanded our educational programming with Grand Rounds and didactics across our region’s academic institutions. Our Advocacy Talks were one of the highlights of my role as president, and I hope that they helped inspire trainees to see advocacy as a core part of psychiatric practice (or at least planted that seed).

Special thanks to Dr. Carl Fleisher, who stepped into the role of Program Committee Chair; to Dr. Manal Khan, who led our revitalized Academic Liaison Committee; and to Drs. Justin Nguyen and Somin Lim, who relaunched the Resident Fellow Member Committee.

Responding to Crisis

In January, devastating wildfires swept through Southern California, displacing SCPS members and patients, and destroying homes, offices, schools, and beautiful communities. The fires brought fear, grief, and a profound sense of collective trauma.

I am deeply grateful to Dr. Danielle Chang and the SCPS Disaster Response Committee, who led our efforts to support affected members and patients. Recovery will be a long road, but we remain committed to supporting one another. Several disaster psychiatry talks are planned at APA, and I highly recommend attending some of them. Please contact us if you are interested in joining the Disaster Committee. Disaster psychiatry expertise is very much needed in our field.

With Deep Gratitude

Throughout this year, I’ve leaned on an incredible team. My heartfelt thanks to the SCPS Council, to SCPS committee chairs and members, to Drs. Patrick Kelly, Emily Wood, Laura Halpin, Matt Goldenberg, Heather Silverman, and Gillian Friedman, who made up this year’s Executive Committee, and to Rod Sahner, who not only served as an honorary EC member but also represented us with strength and integrity as Chair of the CSAP Board.

Another special thank you goes to Dr. Ruqayyah Malik for her thoughtful and steady leadership of the Diversity and Culture Committee, especially in this year of heightened global and national conflict and polarization. SCPS is committed to representing marginalized voices and ensuring that mental health advocacy reflects equity and inclusion.

Special thank you to Mindi Thelen, our Executive Director—the executive functioning component of SCPS. Trust me. It would be chaotic without her!

And finally—to my family: Assaf, Eden, Liam, and Kai—thank you for your patience, hugs, and constant support. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Looking Ahead

I hope to see many of you at the APA Annual Meeting here in Los Angeles, May 17–21, and at our SCPS reception on Monday, May 19th, from 4–6 PM at Fleming’s Steakhouse (co-hosted with PRMS). Please RSVP soon via the invitation email, and help us celebrate our collective work and community.

Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your president. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished. I am apprehensive but hopeful for what’s to come. Psychiatric advocacy has never been more important. Let’s keep pushing, building, advocating, and healing—together.

I look forward to supporting Dr. Patrick Kelly, the incoming president of SCPS.

Warmly and with gratitude,
Galya Rees

Social Media Coverage of Mental Health Topics – Like or Dislike?

by Matthew Markis, DO

A growing body of research has explored the effects of social media on our youth, but one area that deserves attention is how social media coverage of mental health issues can have an impact. Social media has evolved from a space for casual updates and staying connected to family, friends and acquaintances into a powerful platform for advocacy, information and awareness. One of the most significant cultural shifts is the increasing visibility of mental health conversations online. From personal testimonies on anxiety and depression to infographics shared across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X, mental health is no longer a taboo topic it once was—but that visibility comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

Before diving into the effects of social media, it is important to understand just how widespread its use has become. Approximately 95% of high school aged youths use a social media platform, with about 20% reporting “almost constant” use. A Gallup survey of 1,500 adolescents showed that the average teen spends approximately 4.8 hours per day on social media, and over 97% of adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 21 with psychotic or mood disorders reported using social media, averaging more than 2.5 hours daily. Despite many teens acknowledging they spend too much time on social media, they have difficulty cutting back for reasons we understand all too well.

One of the most powerful benefits of social media is its ability to make mental health topics more familiar and visible. There wasn’t much exposure to these issues before social media, and especially before the internet. Patients have often told me they are unaware of their family’s psychiatric history because such topics were not discussed when they were growing up. Yet young people are especially more likely to see content about depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or ADHD in their daily scrolling than in school or at a doctor’s office. It could be someone in their cohort, a mental health professional or even a celebrity openly discussing a topic which can help normalize discussions around psychiatric symptoms and motivate people to seek professional help. It can also be validating for people who have felt alone in their struggles or were dismissed by friends, family, or even clinicians. It offers a sense of belonging and emotional support that can be hard to find offline.

For those who have limited access to care, educational videos and infographics created by licensed professionals (and sometimes by lived-experience advocates) can provide psychoeducation, coping strategies, and effective tools that resonate with people. For some, this information can be a helpful stepping stone until formal care is accessible. Social media also serves as a platform for advertising, helping people connect with care more easily and seamlessly.

Yet psychiatric conditions are nuanced and rarely as clear-cut as social media often suggests. A 15-second video listing “5 signs you have ‘X’ condition” might be well-intentioned, but it can reduce a deeply complex disorder to a checklist. This kind of oversimplification can mislead users into thinking they have a certain condition, prevent them from seeking help and even complicate their treatment if they do.

It is also important to recognize that the primary goal of social media companies is not to share the most helpful and valid information, but to maximize engagement. The algorithms will favor catchy posts with a simple message that triggers an emotional response. Detecting someone’s interest in a topic, the algorithm will then flood a user’s feed with similar content with the goal of keeping their eyes glued to the screen. This creates a feedback loop that over time can intensify a user’s beliefs and limit exposure to other perspectives.

Another troubling effect of the algorithm is not just the relentless flow of posts, but the rapid spread of false information. An MIT study found that false stories were 70% more likely to be retweeted than true ones, and that contrary to popular belief, human users were chiefly responsible for disseminating misinformation, not bots. The reason, according to one of the researchers Sinan Aral is because “false news is more novel, and people are more likely to share novel information.” People who share such information are seen as “being in the know.”

Although research on the topic is limited, there is some data revealing the degree of false information related to mental health, and it’s not very promising. According to one study that had medically trained professionals analyze 500 TikTok videos with the hashtag #mentalhealth or #mentalhealthtips, more than 80% were misleading. These 500 videos were viewed almost 25 million times and received 3.5 million likes. Another analysis of the 100 most-viewed TikTok videos about ADHD found that less than half of the claims about symptoms were consistent with clinical guidelines for diagnosing the condition, and as of 2022, according to CHADD #ADHD videos on TikTok had received 11.4 billion views.

The most viral mental health content is not always created by professionals. Influencers with no clinical background may present anecdotal experiences as universal truths or promote treatments (like supplements or specific therapy styles) without scientific backing. Even well-meaning creators can unintentionally spread misinformation if they prioritize relatability and views over accuracy. Regardless of whether a post is related to mental health or some other topic, it has been an ongoing struggle for social media companies to combat misinformation.

One bright spot is that despite their extensive social media use, most young people do not trust it as a reliable source of information. In fact, when people aged 15-24 were asked which institutions they trusted most, doctors and healthcare workers were at the top of the list and social media was at the bottom. Of those polled, a median of 61% said they trusted doctors and healthcare workers most, followed by scientists (56%), friends and family (45%), national news media (37%), with only 17% trusting social media.

I have personally limited my use of social media over the last several years and generally see this as a good thing. But I also remind myself that there is an entire generation that has grown up under its influence. Social media has the power to change the conversation around mental health in ways we’ve never seen before. Despite the challenges of misinformation and oversimplification, there is also an opportunity to increase awareness of a topic that was once taboo.  Whether someone learns a snippet of information related to mental health, or it serves as a gateway to getting treatment, these things add up to make a difference. We have an opportunity to use social media to share reliable mental health information widely, but making that impact will take work and thoughtful engagement.

Resources:

Young E, McCain JL, Mercado MC, et al. Frequent Social Media Use and Experiences with Bullying Victimization, Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness, and Suicide Risk Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023. MMWR Suppl 2024;73(Suppl-4):23–30

Jones, J. M. (2024, February 14). Teens spend average of 4.8 hours on social media per day. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx

Naslund JA, Bondre A, Torous J, Aschbrenner KA. Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice. J Technol Behav Sci. 2020 Sep;5(3):245-257. doi: 10.1007/s41347-020-00134-x. Epub 2020 Apr 20. PMID: 33415185; PMCID: PMC7785056.

Trafton, A. (2018, March 8). Study: False news spreads faster than the truth. MIT News. https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308

PlushCare Content Team. (2025, January 8). How accurate is mental health advice on TikTok? PlushCare. https://plushcare.com/blog/tiktok-mental-health/

Karasavva V, Miller C, Groves N, Montiel A, Canu W, et al. (2025) A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD. PLOS ONE 20(3): e0319335.

CHADD. (2022, August). Attention Magazine. https://chadd.org/attention-magazine/attention-magazine-august-2022/

Ray, J. (2021, November 18). Young people rely on social media, but don’t trust it. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/357446/young-people-rely-social-media-don-trust.aspx

A Healthy Transition to a Modern Society Dominated by Technology

by Luis Bautista, MD

In today’s world, it’s common for everyone over 12 to own a mobile device and use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and Snapchat. Studies show that 99% of Americans with smart devices use social media, with 78% accessing it primarily from their phones. On average, Americans spend 2 hours and 23 minutes daily on social media and over 3 hours on their phones, totaling more than 40 days per year. In contrast, they spend only about 20 minutes being physically active each day.

In primary care settings, lack of exercise is a frequent concern across all age groups. Patients often cite lack of time, financial constraints, or low motivation as barriers. While some reasons may be valid, the data suggests time is not the primary issue. This article aims to provide nonjudgmental guidance and practical solutions to help individuals, particularly adolescents and young adults, incorporate more physical activity into their daily routines.

Many believe staying active requires a gym membership, daily runs, or structured classes, but this isn’t true. While gyms offer equipment, trainers, and a motivating environment, they aren’t the only option. Barriers like cost, distance, childcare, or gym anxiety make them impractical for some. Running is another accessible option, but factors like location, knee pain, or breathing issues can make it unappealing. These are all valid concerns, and the goal is to provide patients with alternative ways to stay active, so they don’t feel stuck or give up when traditional options don’t work for them.

For the patients who would like to attend a gym but feel they cannot afford it should be directed to contact their insurance because many will be willing to pay for a gym membership for the simple fact that it is cheaper to have a patient healthy than it is to have them sick and using an abundance of healthcare resources. Other options for financial constraints can be to get equipment for the home that can be used for exercise. For those who own their homes, they can consider a home gym and those who are renting in apartments or smaller places can invest in small or adjustable dumbbells, resistance bands, jump ropes, compact treadmills or using body weight exercises and online videos!

The US DHHS 2008 Physical Activity guidelines for Americans recommend that children and teens be physically active for at least 60 minutes on most, if not all, days. For children, the 60 minutes of activity can be done in smaller chunks of time over the day. Some of that time may come from physical education (PE) and gym classes in schools. Further research is needed for a set recommendation but generally at least 6k steps should be taken in a day with 10k being ideal for adolescents and adults. Given the statistics above, it is clear that these goals are not being met by the majority, as healthcare professionals, we should be finding ways to help our patients meet these goals whether it be in psychiatric or medical primary care. Physical activity has a large impact on the mental and physical health of everyone and steps should be taken to ensure that our patients are avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and creating better outcomes for their health.

Adolescents and young adults seem to be the dominant populations in the amount of time spent on tech devices with studies showing about 6-8 hours spent per day. This is just something that is now ingrained into our reality and while it may be possible to have them decrease the time spent on these devices it is nearly impossible to completely eliminate the use of these devices since they have become a large role in our everyday lives from access to information, schoolwork and communication. For this reason, the goals of the community should not be to demonize and eliminate the use of these devices but to find creative ways to work around their place in society and simultaneously maintain a healthy lifestyle. Demonizing use of these devices without educating them on the ways they may be useful can be harmful and punitive especially when done while shaming the youth for their lack of physical activity.

“I just don’t have the time.” This seems to be the most popular excuse for any age group in neglecting their daily exercise. However, when we look at the data, it seems that if social media usage was even halved and that time was used instead on some form of physical activity, then we would increase the daily average of exercise by nearly 5-fold. When your patient uses this as the reason why they do not exercise, it is important to make sure they feel hear but also challenge them by asking why they do not have time and asking how much time they realistically spend on their devices, which many times they may not be truthful for fear of being judged. The fact of the matter is that, even in a busy schedule, some quick exercise can almost always be implemented in someone’s schedule. If looking for strength exercises but don’t have access to a gym or gym equipment some of the best options are investing in resistance bands or learning about calisthenics and doing pure body weight exercises such as pushups, sit-ups, pullups, burpees, jumping jacks, squats, vertical jumps, dips, planks, jump rope and many more. Many of these can be done while at work, at school, watching tv, on your phone and when doing just about anything as long as you are physically capable to do so. If you have patients who love to play video games or binge watch tv shows try to have them implement some of these exercises in between game breaks (or can create their own breaks) or during show ads, or during the show itself. Some may even have equipment such as ellipticals or treadmills in the home that they never use but can use while still doing the things they enjoy doing on their devices.

Strength exercises are one option but often the exercise that is undermined and can easily be implemented into a daily routine is walking! One way this can be implemented in your day is if you are close to work or school or even to the store, walk some days instead of using transportation, if safe of course. When you are at work or school, try to take walks during breaks and avoid using that time being sedentary on your phone, maybe call a friend while walking. Whenever you got to a store or out, take the stairs instead of the elevator and always park further from the entrance to get extra steps, also less cars around which means easier to get out and less likely to get dinged by another car! Walking can be a way to bond with family too by taking post-dinner walks, taking the dogs out or going to a nice park/hike on the weekends. Try going uphill whenever you have the chance and walk briskly, these are both ways to get more efficiency out of your walk by increasing that heart rate a bit more. If there is a Netflix show you don’t want to miss, or a YouTube channel you want to catch up on, try downloading the apps and doing this while you are walking around the neighborhood, while paying attention to your surroundings, you can even do this on a treadmill, elliptical, Stairmaster or other forms of cardio equipment, if available. If it is not safe to walk in the neighborhood, find a safe location in your home or in the yard to walk around as well. These are only some of the creative ways you can get implement exercise into your daily routine whether you are busy or not.

Parents play a key role in shaping their children’s health habits, as kids often follow their example. Encouraging activity is important, but leading by example is even more effective. Simple household tasks like gardening, raking, mowing, cooking, and washing dishes promote movement. In winter, shoveling snow can be a great workout. Getting kids involved in sports, bands, or family-friendly competitions like relay races helps keep them active. Dancing together, using YouTube workout videos, or exploring parks, zoos, and amusement parks can make exercise enjoyable. Swimming—whether at home, a gym, or outdoors—is another great option. Small hand weights can also enhance daily activities for an easy fitness boost.

This article only touches the possibilities, but my hope is that it provides a place of reference whenever parents or providers are stuck in what to talk about with the patient when the topic of physical activity is at hand. Especially with those patients that say they don’t have time or don’t know what to do. This can be a guide and lead to more comprehensive activity plans while also providing confidence that being active daily does not necessitate some intense exercise plan that needs to be strictly adhered to. It is our job as healthcare providers to make sure our patients are leading healthy lives and have the resources to be able to make those changes happen either by providing information, support, gym assistance programs, etc. We should be more proactive in understanding what our patients’ daily activity looks like to have a base of groundwork. Just remember the most important aspect to this is to educate without shaming and nobody is ever too young or old to live an active life.

References

• Tudor-Locke C, Craig CL, Beets MW, Belton S, Cardon GM, Duncan S, Hatano Y, Lubans DR, Olds TS, Raustorp A, Rowe DA, Spence JC, Tanaka S, Blair SN. How many steps/day are enough? for children and adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011 Jul 28;8:78. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-78. PMID: 21798014; PMCID: PMC3166269.
• Kracht CL, Beyl RA, Maher JP, Katzmarzyk PT, Staiano AE. Adolescents’ sedentary time, affect, and contextual factors: An ecological momentary assessment study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Apr 15;18(1):53. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01121-y. PMID: 33858416; PMCID: PMC8047569.
• Anjana, R.M., Ranjani, H., Cerin, E. et al. Associations of perceived neighbourhood and home environments with sedentary behaviour among adolescents in 14 countries: the IPEN adolescent cross sectional observational study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 21, 136 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01678-4
• Lou, D. Sedentary Behaviors and Youth: Current Trends and the Impact on Health. San Diego, CA: Active Living Research; 2014. Available at activelivingresearch.org.
• https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/get-active/physical-activity-guidelines.htm#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Health%20and%20Human%20Services,in%20smaller%20chunks%20of%20time%20over%20the%20day.
• S. Department of Health and Human Services (2018). Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Social Media Users 2025 (Global Data & Statistics) | Priori Data

‘6 Schizophrenic Brothers’

by Lloyd Lee, DO

Last year, MAX released the limited docuseries ‘Six Schizophrenic Brothers’ which tells the story of  the Galvin family from Colorado Springs, Colorado. As the title states, six out of the twelve children acquired schizophrenia which devastated the once prestigious family in a way that most families can never imagine. Most families that have a family member with serious mental illness may have one or two members that are ill, but having six in one family is truly unprecedented! The various tragedies endured by the family include murder, rape, suicide and violence. Of course, these types of tragedies do not occur in all families with members with serious mental illness, but this is what the Galvin family experienced. While six of the ill brothers were consumed by the madness of their disease, those that were lucky to not have schizophrenia were consumed by the consequences inflicted by their brothers. Because of the extremely high prevalence of schizophrenia in this family, researchers nationwide were drawn to them to try to find any genetic link with the hope that it could lead to a cure.

The father of the family, Dr. Donald Galvin, was in the Navy and taught political science at the Air Force Academy. The mother, Mimi Galvin, was associated with the arts and performers, such as known singers and musicians, and was well connected within the ranking members of the local Catholic church. The oldest son, Donald Junior, excelled in multiple sports, was the father’s favorite, got good grades, was handsome and dated the general’s daughter. The second son, Jim, was also a star athlete.  To the outside world, the Galvins projected an image of prestige, class and culture. Their home was described as ‘overly orderly’. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that afflicted them inside their home.

Schizophrenia first took hold of the family when Donald Jr. came home from college. His psychosis was noticed by his siblings when he was yelling, “What’s wrong with me, help me”, and said that there’s someone outside trying to hurt them. He was then sent to the Colorado State Hospital for the first of his many stays. In order to maintain the family’s image of prestige, the parents had Donald Jr. discharged earlier than recommended. The Father even had a psychiatrist remove schizophrenia from Donald Jr’s record. However, with Donald back at home and in the community, he engaged in other acts of violence that landed him back at the State Hospital. Once Donald Jr’s mental illness had fully manifested, the family could no longer have gatherings nor host parties with prestigious members of the community.

The show does a nice job of eliciting the experience of the actual patients. The host asked Don Jr., “What is ‘schizophrenia?’”. Don Jr. replied, “thinking too many things, and in doing so, caring too much that way. It’s hard on the person who’s schizophrenic [because] you don’t know where to stop & rest on things”. Regarding his auditory hallucinations, Don Jr. explained, “Angels spoke through me. Although I don’t hear voices. I used to”

Since the parents were so consumed with Donald Jr’s illness, the second son, Jim, and his wife became the de facto babysitters of the other children. This initially worked out because the other children looked up to Jim. He and his wife were very cool in the eyes of his younger siblings. He drove a sports car, wore a leather jacket and was known as “James Dean”. Unfortunately, he was also extremely physically abusive to his wife. Jim was later diagnosed with schizophrenia at 24 years old and also sent to Colorado State Hospital. Now with two brothers diagnosed with schizophrenia, the other siblings were subjected to their acts of violence and abuse and admitted to coping by using drugs.

As the series goes on, one by one, it describes each brother who started with promising potential in academics, sports and/or music who then succumbed to psychosis. After the third case, the family realized that there was something uniquely wrong with the family. The host does interviews with most of the living members of the family. The ones with schizophrenia give sobering accounts of their ongoing delusions and sincere reasons for treatment noncompliance. Some of these delusions of grandeur include believing that they’re celebrities or saints. As each brother was falling ill, the other siblings were plagued by the concern of “am I next?” On top of the suffering that the non-schizophrenic family siblings suffered by the ill brothers, the show also talks about the guilt they felt with their inability to help their brothers. It also talks about how in the 1970s, much of schizophrenia was blamed by parenting style including the term “schizophrenic mother”. As a result, their mother was unfairly blamed during family therapy sessions.

Eventually, the family attracts researchers that aimed to identify common genes from the siblings that acquired schizophrenia, as well as environmental factors, such as trauma, stress, head injuries and substance abuse that may have contributed to the onset of their disease. Despite the fact that research has shown that the vast majority of patients with schizophrenia never engage in violent behaviors, the show makes it a point to detail the horrific acts of violence and abuse committed by some of the schizophrenic brothers. However, the show also strives to humanize the brothers with schizophrenia to show that they can be normal in their times of lucidity.

As someone who encounters patients with schizophrenia frequently in my line of work, this series is a great reminder of how behind the diagnosis that many of our seriously mentally ill patients carry on our EMRs, these are real people with real families just trying their best to get by in life day by day.

Partners in Resilience: When Community Comes Together

by Tatjana Josic, DO

The Los Angeles wildfires in 2025 have a significant impact on communities and students, resulting in significant health, emotional, and educational challenges. The psychological impact on students in affected areas was considerable. Traumatic experiences related to evacuation, property loss, and witnessing destruction in some instances lead to anxiety, depression, and stress-related disorders. These emotional challenges also hindered students’ focus and performance in school, affecting their overall well-being and academic success. Wildfires also disrupted the educational process significantly. School closures due to safety concerns and air quality issues resulted in lost academic days. For students who rely on a consistent routine and environment, such disruptions hindered their learning progress. Additionally, many families were displaced due to homes being lost, making it challenging for students to maintain continuity in their education.

In response to wildfires, many LA communities came together to provide support. Local organizations and schools offered resources such as counseling services, emergency assistance, and educational programs focused on recovery and resilience. These community efforts help students feel supported and foster a sense of belonging, even in challenging times. At the same time, neighboring schools welcomed students whose schools were damaged or destroyed in fires.

Communities in Pasadena and Altadena were greatly impacted by the Eaton fire.

In our discussion with Toby McDonald Chou, president of Partnership for Awareness (PfA), we highlighted community resilience, and the collaborative efforts involved in crisis response to alleviate mental health suffering both in general and during times of crisis.

To support the community during and after the Eaton fire, the Partnership for Awareness (PfA) communicated the availability of services, including individual and family counseling provided by MFT trainees at the Titan Wellness Center, the high school counseling center serving all school sites in San Marino. This information was shared at nearly every PfA program. In 2024, the PfA board allocated $16,000 in grants to the San Marino Unified School District (SMUSD) Titan Wellness Center to enhance student mental health and wellness initiatives. Additionally, PfA encouraged families to contribute to an immediate relief collection center organized by the San Marino PTA Council, which was held at the San Marino Community Center.

The San Marino school district and the wider community welcomed students from affected schools in Pasadena and Altadena. In response to these events, PfA quickly revised the spring programming calendar to focus on mental health and emotional well-being for everyone in the community. They developed a program to screen student films that addressed suicide prevention and mental health awareness. PfA also encouraged students to express their thoughts on mental health through art, incorporating this initiative into the school curriculum as an assignment for Advanced Media Arts students.

In March, PfA hosted a screening of the student-made films and invited counselors from the San Marino Unified School District Wellness program to facilitate a question-and-answer session following the screenings. One noteworthy submission from San Marino High School students, titled “See the Signs,” received an honorable mention prize in the Los Angeles County film contest.

Partnership for Awareness (PfA) was founded by a group of concerned parents who gathered to discuss issues related to drug and alcohol abuse within the youth community. From this initial meeting, a Committee on Substance Abuse was formed, which eventually led to the establishment of PfA in 1982. The mission of Partnership for Awareness is to increase awareness of critical issues affecting the health and well-being of San Marino youth. PfA aims to identify and address these issues through cooperative partnerships with parents, students, educators, and community groups. The organization provides a forum to educate the San Marino community—both adults and children—equipping them with knowledge and skills to navigate these important challenges successfully.

Since 2020, PfA has awarded nearly $40,000 in grants to support student wellness at all four San Marino school sites. These grants cover the licensing fees for the social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum at both elementary school sites. Additionally, the funds have been used to purchase furnishings, books, and wellness items for the wellness centers at San Marino High School and Huntington Middle School. Wellness counselors report that these spaces are utilized by students daily and significantly enhance their mental health. PfA has also established a scholarship program for graduating seniors from San Marino High School who are pursuing careers aligned with its mission. This year, six scholarships were awarded, bringing the total amount awarded in scholarships to over $30,000 in the past three years.

Each year, PfA sponsors Red Ribbon Week at the end of October across all four San Marino school sites. The organization encourages program speakers, board members, and community partners—including the San Marino Chief of Police and the San Marino Fire Department Chief—to maintain open and transparent communication. Families feel less stigma when they witness open discussions about these important issues.

This summer, PfA chairs will decide on parent education programs for the next school year. Among the topics under consideration are supporting the community through trauma and emphasizing youth resilience.

The impact of wildfires in Los Angeles on communities and students is multifaceted, affecting health, emotional well-being, and education. Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated effort involving community leaders, educators, mental health professionals, and families to support resilience and recovery efforts for those affected.

Photo Gallery (Pt. 1) – SCPS Installation & Awards Ceremony

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the New Center for Psychoanalysis in West Los Angeles

Congratulations to all of the awardees!  Some are pictured here: (Part 2 will be published next month)
Anita Red, MD (President’s Commendation Award Recipient) with President, Galya Rees, MD
Lawrence Gross, MD presents the Outstanding Achievement Award to Ira Lesser, MD
Roderick Shaner, MD presents Distinguished Achievement Award to Matthew Goldenberg, DO
Emily Wood, MD presents Appreciation Award to Erick Cheung, MD
Ruqayyah Malik, MD presents the George L. Mallory Award to C. Freeman, MD
Patrick Kelly, MD presents Appreciation Award to Alex Lin, MD
Galya Rees, MD presents a Presidential Commendation Award to Victoria Huang, MD
Outgoing President, Galya Rees, MD with incoming President, Patrick Kelly, MD
Patrick Kelly, MD with Emily Wood, MD and Galya Rees, MD
Roderick Shaner, MD and attendees

California Advocacy Sessions at APA

APA Annual Meeting 2025 – Register Now

Title: Mental Health Advocacy: experiences of California legislators and psychiatrists
Session Code: 1611
Date and Time: 05/17/2025 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
Room: Room 402 B
Venue: Los Angeles Convention Center

Description
Over the last several years, California has made historic, sweeping changes in mental and behavioral health law including mental health parity, civil commitment law, and funding the behavioral health continuum of care. For instance, in 2023-24 alone, California instituted the first major reforms to its civil commitment law in over 65 years, dedicated $6.4 billion to develop mental healthcare infrastructure through the Behavioral Health Bond, and modernized the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) to focus on people with the most serious psychiatric illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. At the forefront of this movement have been legislators committed to mental healthcare and psychiatrists advocating for their patients. When psychiatrists and other mental health professionals understand current psychiatry-related government affairs, they are better able to be advocates for their patients in the community and provide expert knowledge and experience to lawmakers. Our session will introduce participants to state-level psychiatric advocacy through presentations and a panel discussion with California state legislators and psychiatrists with recent experience in mental health legislative advocacy. We will provide an overview of recent major policy changes in California’s mental and behavioral health laws and regulations.

Legislators and psychiatrists will describe their experiences working on particular bills and more generally. During our session, we will demonstrate how psychiatrists can use their expert knowledge to develop relationships with lawmakers and inform mental health law. We will showcase communication between legislators and psychiatrists with a panel discussion that includes questions from the audience as well as questions between panelists.

Speakers
Laura Halpin, MD, PhD – Chair
Emily Wood, M.D., Ph.D. – Chair
Ben Allen, JD – Presenter
Corey A. Jackson, DSW, MSW – Presenter
Paul Yoder, MPPA – Discussant

Title: Mental Health Training for Judges: how judges and psychiatrists can work together to improve diversion out of the jail setting
Session Code: 1635
Date and Time: 05/20/2025 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM PDT
Room: Room 405
Venue: Los Angeles Convention Center

Description
In many ways, US jails have become the de facto social safety net for the seriously mentally ill. Across US jails, the rate of detainees with current serious mental illness continues to increase and is estimated at 15-30% with the vast majority detained on non-violent/misdemeanor charges and the number of defendants who are referred to competency evaluation each year is greater than 140,000. The Los Angeles County jail system is the largest jail system in the country and is also known for being one of the largest mental health facilities in the world. Psychiatrists without formal forensic training are providing critically necessary care to currently or formerly incarcerated individuals in “correctional” and community settings. As mental health diversion programs have grown around the country, judges are increasingly called upon to assess and make decisions based on evidence surrounding psychiatric disorders and the need for psychiatrists to interface with the judicial and carceral system has dramatically grown. Through initiatives like the Judges & Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative, psychiatrists are providing judges with essential training and understanding about mental and behavioral health while learning about the organization and limits of the justice system. Our session will provide participants with information about the scope of the mental health crisis in the US carceral system, including a brief introduction to the competency process. General principles and successful examples of mental health diversion programs will be introduced. Both judges and psychiatrists will describe how they can work together to improve mental health understanding in the judicial system. Participants will be provided with specific examples of the kind of mental health training that has been found helpful by judges and ways that they may be able to engage in training in the future.

Speakers
Reba Bindra, MD – Chair
Emily Wood, M.D.,Ph.D. – Chair
Karla Kerlin, JD – Presenter
Amy Guerra, JD – Presenter

Welcome New SCPS Members!

We are proud to spotlight some of our newest members:

Huzaifa Ashraf, MD – General Member

My name is Huzaifa Ashraf and I am an adult psychiatrist .I graduated from Rush university Chicago in 2018 and since relocating to Southern California I have worked in academic and private practice roles. I worked as assistant professor of psychiatry at USC and LAC / USC Outpatient clinic for 4 years where I mentored residents and medical students. I have been working with Kaiser Permanente Southern California since 2022 where I was involved in leading their eating disorder program. I’m currently working on building a solo private practice in East LA and work per diem for Kaiser.

Nha Bao, MD – General Member

Thank you for having me here at SCPS! Like many of you, I seek connection with my peers. As it turns out, my penchant for understanding humans doesn’t simply switch off when I close my clinic door—much to my chagrin.

But much like my patients, looking inward for understanding has led me to realize that familiarity and a shared sense of values with others help immensely—especially in times when the world seems to offer fewer tolerant spaces.

I’m looking forward to learning from all of you, connecting with some of you, and, together, creating a reality where we can cultivate larger spaces for people—including ourselves—to heal and better understand life’s journey.

Meghan Jain, MD – General Member

Dr. Meghan Jain is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Southern California with a degree in Neuroscience, Philosophy, and Natural Science. She received her medical degree from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. She then completed her general psychiatric residency training at UCLA San Fernando Valley and was Chief Fellow at her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at UCLA Harbor Medical Center. She now has a private practice (Ocean Bay Psychiatry) in Los Angeles.

Throughout her training, Dr. Jain has developed a passion for mental health and promoting wellness. She believes that each person is a unique individual and gets to know her patients in the context of their lives including their home environment, school, and family. When working with patients, Dr. Jain strives to treat people with a compassionate and person-centered clinical approach. She will work closely with each family to create a comprehensive mental health treatment plan.

All new SCPS members are invited to provide Membership Spotlight materials.  (Providing these materials is optional.)

Homelessness

“Like reading opinion polls and questionnaires–or even responding to them? Here’s one that might be thought-provoking. The LA County Board of Supervisors intends to launch a new “Department of Homelessness” which no doubt reflects deep frustration about the seemingly intractable nature of the problem. They seek input about what skills the new department head should have. The questionnaire makes for interesting reading and, at a minimum, gives some insight into where local government sees potential solutions. They could use our suggestions.”

The County is seeking input via this survey: https://esurvey.lacounty.gov/EFM/se/23D37AC100F7BC67

LA County, per this LAist article, is seeking input on their intended new Dept Head for Homelessness.

https://laist.com/brief/news/housing-homelessness/la-county-new-homelessness-department-survey

March Council Highlights

by Gillian Friedman, MD

February Council Minutes approved with no amendments.

Committee Reports

• GAC

RESOLVED: That the SCPS Council take OPPOSE positions to AB SB 751 and AB 1108

GAC presentation: Both bills deal with same issues that we opposed last year regarding psilocybin and some other substances that have limited clinical research. Both bills would allow pilot for research on psilocybin within UC system, without having to go through the regular rigorous reviews for FDA-approved use – would set precedent for circumventing typical rigorous review for pharmaceutical research.

Plan is to ask CSAP to take OPPOSE position

RESOLVED: That the SCPS Council take an OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED position on AB 1429. (Oppose unless amended to apply to all health plans).

GAC presentation: Looks like a parity bill, but as written is a set of fines just for Kaiser, doesn’t actually act to improve access (doesn’t increase patient access to services, reduce wait times, etc.) — concern that this is meant to use legislative process as a lever in Kaiser Permanente labor negotiation (potentially a concerning use of the legislative process). Ask is to have bill amended so it applies to all health plans.

RESOLVED: That the SCPS Council approve $500 in funding for travel expenses by former Senator Eggman to speak at the presentation by GAC co-chair Wood and incoming GAC co-chair Halpin at the APA Conference in Los Angeles in May.

GAC Presentation: Session chaired by Dr. Wood and Dr. Halpin introduces participants to state-level psychiatric advocacy through presentations and a panel discussion with California state legislators and psychiatrists with recent experience in mental health legislative advocacy. Will provide an overview of recent major policy changes in California’s mental and behavioral health laws and regulations… Will demonstrate how psychiatrists can use their expert knowledge to develop relationships with lawmakers and inform mental health law. (Comes from SCPS Advocacy funds).

GAC presented links to CSAP-supported bills.
SB-820 Inmates: psychiatric medication: administration (Stern D) – ability to get involuntary medication for misdemeanor incompetent to stand trial.

SB-823 Mental health: the CARE Act (Stern D) – adding Bipolar I to approved diagnoses allowing referral to CARE Court

AB-1105 Conservatorships. (Quirk-Silva D) – conservatorship in outpatient world have limited ability to place conservatees in facilities with secured perimeter.

SB-367 Mental health. (Allen D) – preliminary language right now, working with Senator Allen to try to change language

Possible Menjivar Bill on aspects of CARE Court and 5200.

CSAP Co-sponsored Bills:
AB-384 Health care coverage: mental health and substance use disorders: Inpatient admissions (Connolly D): NO prior auth for MH/SA admissions for 24hr acute care
SB-320 Firearms: California Don Not Sell List (Limon D) – Add one’s own name

• Disaster Response Committee
  APA Disaster Committee is interested in meeting with us at APA this year RE: what we went through with fires this year, also talk about what APA could improve. They are interested in driving by/visiting affected areas – asking for SCPS volunteers to help with this visit to affected areas.
• Child and Adolescent Committee – Large annual meeting of Southern California Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry occurred in the past week.
• Unhoused Workgroup – let Danielle know if interested in joining the group
  Stimulant Taskforce – meeting rescheduled to next month to gather more info about how federal changes will affect next actions.
• Private Practice Committee – in early stages of putting together Risk Management talk, and an Administrative/Board Attorney Talk. Committee members were asked to pick top topics for the virtual meeting. The committee set aside time to process potential upcoming changes related to changes in health policy with new administration – concerns about non-evidence based suggestions in Making America Healthy Again. Pertinent working topics: stimulant shortage, change in teleprescribing rules, Medicare, access to care issues. A lot of interest from early career members.
• Diversity and Culture.
  Had Black History Month edition of the SCPS newsletter. Had Black History Month event Mon Feb 24th 7-8:30, online– panel of speakers with topics: 1) Importance of maintaining diverse workforce, 2) Role of organized psychiatry in times of polarization. Meeting in March will focus on reviewing applicants for George L. Mallory Diversity, Culture and Social Justice Award.
• Alternatives to Incarceration
  Requested funds for flight for N Cal judge to come down to APA session led by Dr. Bindra and Dr. Wood — Mental Health Training for Judges: how judges and psychiatrists can work together to improve diversion out of the jail setting.
• Awards Committee
  Helps to identify nominations for awards (Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Resident Aware, Outstanding Achievement Award, Appreciation Award, Special Awards). Contact Mindi or Matt if you have a nominee in mind, or if you would like to help in the process.
• Alternatives to Incarceration
  No new updates.
• Access to Care
  Discussed new DEA teleprescribing rules and concerns about “specialist” certification requirements for reduced face-to-face visits. (Noting that the Stimulant Task force is addressing this with APA). The fires resulted in an All Plan Letter from Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) emphasizing that “out-of-network as in-network” coverage should be provide more liberally. Gillian summarized the recent APA Webinar about implications (benefits/challenges) of FDA announcement of end of Clozapine REMS as of 2/25/25.
• APA Representation Task Force
  Met this month to look at goals. Leadership is aware of efforts. Want to have more equitable opportunity, increase our representation, have DBs have input into who gets appointed into APA component committees and other leadership (less “who you know” and more equitable process). Want our action papers to be decided upon within a year. Prioritizing how to work together on timely legislative priorities. Focus on how to communicate better national – local.
• Awards Committee – proposed awards presented for May 3 Installment and Awards Ceremony, approved by council
• Academic Liaison Committee
  Awards presented and approved.
• RFM (Resident-Fellow)
  Had “makeup” meeting last week for those who couldn’t make first meeting in Feb. Discussed how residents can be involved in organized psychiatry. Interested in building engagement with SCPS, and connections between residency programs in SCPS area. , came up with some ideas for some evening programming with interest both to RFMs and others (changes such as CARE Court, etc.), how to help and protect and soothe your undocumented patients.

Assembly Reports – started reviewing action papers. Will need to be elections for RFM Deputy Representative to the Area 6 Council (needs to come from one of the 5 DBs) – need to send in information by March 31, would like to have presentation from all interested at April Council meeting.

• Treasurer’s Report — Dr. Wood
  November Financials and Cash on Hand Report
  Dr. Wood reviewed various financial metrics, 2024 year totals and 2025 year-to-date. Overall, SCPS is in good fiscal health.
• President Elect Report – Dr. Kelly
  Newsletter Updates were provided about the March Issue. Thanks to the individuals who contributed for March. Announcement of the upcoming article assignments for April.
  New Google Forms Submission Document for Newsletter Article Submission (newsletter submission guidelines) presented and approved by Council.
  APA Reception May 19th
• President’s Report – Dr. Rees
  Recap about NAMI Meeting – thoughts for the future. Possibility of co-planning with NAMI in the future raised (and challenges of how to do this with multiple NAMI affiliates
  Motion passed to post Inclusion Statement on SCPS Homepage (including statement that SCPS fully supports APA’s policies on Diversity and Health Equity).
  Review of important current APA Action Alerts from APA Advocacy Action Center and encouragement that everyone be signed up to get APA Advocacy Action Alerts.
  a) Specifically sent notification to Inland Empire SCPS members whose legislators are swing votes encouraging contact to legislators about dramatic proposed Medicare/Medicaid cuts that would affect ability of psychiatrists – across the political spectrum – to provide care to their patients.
  APA Reception – Mon 5/19/2025 4-6pm. Flemings DTLA. Close to convention center. Invitations sent — priority to SCPS members.

Membership Report – Dr. Ijeaku
Membership report was presented and ratified.

Adjournment – Dr. Rees 09:00

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