Four years ago, I found myself getting swept up in the mental health advocacy wave that is taking the state of Oregon by storm. With legislation reform impacting social justice, access to quality care and educational reform, I was fascinated by the ability to create change within my community. In a whirlwind learning curve, I found myself learning the new language of advocacy, being inspired by my mentors and getting to know fellow students who are paving the way of transformation across the nation. I could picture individual patients and clients who would be greatly affected by legislation being discussed in Oregon, and my passion to positively change the lives of many sprang into action.
And then…reality set in. In the midst of my drive to engage with the Advocacy Coordinating Team of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), I still had papers to write, meetings to attend and clients at my practicum to think about. I was overwhelmed with finding the time to still engage in advocacy that meant so much to me, and still pass all of my classes. This reality hits close to home for so many graduate students and often can be the greatest deterrent when deciding whether or not to join a local, state or national advocacy movement.
Thankfully, I have discovered that advocacy is a continuum. Every part of the continuum is perfectly acceptable and can make an impact in our health systems across the nation. Additionally, multiple tiers of engagement in advocacy can vary in time spent focusing on advocacy — flexibility that a graduate student often needs.
The first tier involves person-centered action, such as signing letters to your local representative, signing petitions, attending state legislature meetings and contacting representatives directly. Writing a letter (or filling in your contact information through an auto-generated email) often takes less than five minutes.
The second tier of engagement focuses on supporting organizations who physically advocate for mental health change including providing financial support, time through phone calls, or email writing. Even a donation as little as $10 can make a difference in this tier — roughly the cost of three coffees at your local shop.
Lastly, the third tier involves staying informed about the relevant issues and contributing to collective support. Simply understanding the basic topics regarding mental health within your community can lead to a greater awareness and understanding about such a complex system.
The tiers of advocacy highlight the overall message that there is no perfect way to be a legislative advocate. Every student has a place at the table. Even when it seems like the accomplishments of graduation, licensure and actually becoming a psychologist are so far away, the advocacy work that is taking place now will directly determine the way in which we practice as professionals in the near future.
So where will you start today? Whether you are a graduate student, in your first ten years of practice, in your mid-career or on your way to retirement, the time to engage in legislative advocacy is now.