About Us

The Mission of the Washington State Psychiatric Association

  • To promote public understanding of psychiatry through public education, and advocacy for patients and their interests.
  • To provide a professional group identity among all psychiatrists in Washington State by promoting peer support and collegiality.
  • To promote professionalism in the practice of psychiatry by providing continuing professional education, reviewing members' professional qualifications, and reviewing ethical concerns.

A Short History of the WSPA

The Washington State Psychiatric Association (WSPA) is a professional, non-profit corporation serving psychiatrists in Washington State. It is organized for the purpose of supporting professionalism in the practice of psychiatry and promoting top quality mental health care. WSPA fulfills a dual role, serving as a state association which focuses on local issues, and as a district branch of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) linking WSPA members with developments in mental health care taking place regionally and nationally. WSPA grew out of an earlier regional organization which served psychiatrists in Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. Subsequently, Washington psychiatrists found that their increasing numbers and professional issues prompted the creation of a distinct statewide organization, and the Washington State Psychiatric Association was born.

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