Advocacy for patients and for the profession is now an essential part of the identity of psychiatrists. This volume is the DSM of advocacy for our field. It defines, categorizes, and operationalizes advocacy for the psychiatrist in training as well as the practitioner. Whatever one's specialty or subspecialty it is a guide for our role as advocate. A must read.—Steven S. Sharfstein, M.D.

Advocacy is a responsibility for psychiatrists to a greater extent than any other medical specialty. Our patients are stigmatized, barriers to treatment are common, our treatments are under-supported, our research is under-funded relative to their public impact, and the illnesses that we treat remain the most disabling medical conditions in society. Further psychiatric disorders, such as addictions, remain the only medical conditions that, by definition, put patients in conflict with the criminal justice system.

Psychiatry has struggled to develop a coherent advocacy base and this has hindered the ability of our field to reduce the public health burden of psychiatric disorders.

The rabbinic scholar, Hillel the Elder, famously articulated the essence of advocacy two millennia ago, if I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when? Every psychiatrist must ask themselves this question.

In A Psychiatrist's Guide to Advocacy, Dr. Mary Vance, from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Drs. Katherine Kennedy and Ilse Wiechers from Yale University; and Dr. Saul Levin, from the American Psychiatric Association provide an outstanding resource for psychiatrists who want to stand up for themselves, their profession, and their patients.

The role of advocate may not come naturally to psychiatrists, who are engaged in the most private of medical specialties. But this book begins by helping psychiatrists understand their role as advocates. It then introduces different types of advocacy and highlights the advocacy needs and strategies for specific psychiatric populations. It is presented in a clear, thoughtful, and useful style.

This is an important book for psychiatry and for psychiatrists. I recommend it highly.—John H. Krystal, M.D.

Colleagues: it is not enough to apply what has been learned without endeavoring to improve on what we offer patients. Research and science represents one path to change the world for the better for our patients but another powerful approach is advocacy, to learn why and how to work to change policy, to expand resources, to alter society in order to reduce the risk of psychiatric disease, facilitate early recognition and intervention, and expand resources for access to quality care. While psychiatric care is itself a form of advocacy, recent changes in mental health parity legislation, in destigmatization, in awareness and support of mental health care overall are testimony to the power of expanded advocacy. This volume is a clarion call and blueprint for action.—Jerrold F. Rosenbaum, M.D.

As psychiatrists, we can provide powerful advocacy for our patients and our profession and help improve mental health systems of care.The authors of this excellent book describe effectivestrategies and tools for all psychiatrists who are interested in advocacy.—Renee Binder, M.D., Distinguished Professor, University of California San Francisco, Past President, American Psychiatric Association

This is a useful tool for psychiatrists looking to get involved in improving their patients' lives beyond the office appointment. Each chapter presents clear objectives and offers examples of how to successfully practice advocacy as per interviews with prominent psychiatrists. Although the book does not include a section on systemic racism, it acknowledges its importance along with other social determinants of health. There are not many guides that assemble this number of tools and resources in one place for psychiatrists to access when looking for ways to further help their patients, and for that I strongly recommend it.—Zachary Cohen Hommer, M.D., Doody's Book Reviews