Patient Bill of Rights

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dire effects on mental health, with millions of Americans noting increases in their anxiety, depression, and substance use. Addressing this mental health crisis will require both increasing access to mental health services and making sure people know their rights as patients so they can access high-quality care. The Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science (CAAPS; caaps.co) held a summit and brought together the leaders of dozens of mental health organizations to develop a consensus statement on patients’ rights. Patients have the right to make decisions collaboratively with their provider to receive care that is informed by the best available research, carefully considers the patients’ values, preferences and culture, and tracks progress to determine the effectiveness of care. CAAPS is excited now to launch the Patient Bill of Rights video campaign to promote patients’ awareness of their rights to ask for quality mental health treatment. Protecting people from the brutal effects of COVID-19 will require both a vaccine for people’s physical health and access to high-quality mental health care, each based on the best available research.

For more information regarding the Patient Bill of Rights, click here.