Spending on mental health advocacy by health professional associations and other health care organizations increased markedly between 2014 and 2024, according to an analysis in
JAMA Psychiatry.
This increase occurred as overall advocacy spending by health professional groups decreased by about 13% in the same period.
Why It’s Relevant
Despite the significant economic burden of mental illness in the United States, there has been little research into trends in advocacy spending related to psychiatry and psychology. This current analysis, which makes use of lobbying data from
OpenSecrets.org, can help clarify priorities for various health care groups and guide future advocacy efforts.
By the Numbers
- Between 2014 and 2014, health care organizations’ annual advocacy spending for psychiatry and psychology increased by 29%, from $5.9 million to $7.6 million.
- Annual spending specifically among psychiatry and psychology health professional associations grew from $3 million to $3.3 million.
- During this same period, advocacy spending among all health professional groups decreased from $113.4 million in 2014 to $100.4 million in 2024.
What’s More
Among other health care–related organizations assessed, health services and HMO groups spent a total of $1.8 million on mental health advocacy in 2024, while hospital and nursing home groups spent $1.3 million and human rights groups spent $110,000.
The Other Side
There are no standards for reporting advocacy spending, making it difficult to interpret results.
Takeaway Message
The opioid crisis and legislative efforts around telehealth and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, among other factors, may account for the significant increase in mental health advocacy spending. “As health care costs continue to rise, additional work is needed to better understand relationships between lobbying efforts and health policy, particularly focused on mental health issues,” the researchers wrote.
Related Information
Source
Anmoldeep Singh, et. al. Lobbying trends in psychiatry, psychology. JAMA Psychiatry. Published July 15, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.1921
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/Greggory DiSalvo)