Mental Health Provider
Diabetes Education Program

For the past two years, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Psychological Association (APA) partnered to present in-person courses for licensed mental health professionals interested in providing mental health care to people with diabetes.

Diabetes is a serious health issue affecting almost 30 million people in the United States. Among the wide-ranging co-morbidities associated with diabetes, mental-health issues, notably depression, anxiety, and diabetes distress, are the most overlooked, despite their potential to compromise self-management and increase the risk for serious diabetes-related complications.

In the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, the ADA recommends that clinicians routinely screen patients with diabetes for psychosocial challenges, including mental health concerns, and refer to a mental health provider with knowledge and experience in diabetes when an issue is identified. However, as this screening becomes part of routine diabetes care, there are a limited number of mental health professionals with the knowledge and experience necessary to provide high quality mental health care for people with diabetes.

You may qualify for listing in the ADA Mental Health Provider Directory based on your extensive history providing mental health to people with diabetes.

Membership in the directory is offered to those licensed mental health providers who meet the following criteria:

• Currently licensed as a mental health provider.
• Professional member of the ADA.
• Demonstrated competence treating the mental health needs of people with diabetes by:
  1. Successful completion the continuing education program; or:
  2. Two or more years of experience addressing the mental health needs of people with diabetes.

To apply for a listing please complete the following information on the American Diabetes Association website.

^*To maintain a listing in the directory, clinicians need to maintain their membership to ADA (As low as $75/year).

Q: I am not a psychologist. Am I eligible for the program?

A: All licensed mental health professionals are welcome to join the program. However, CE credits are sponsored by the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office has reviewed and approved the programs to offer CE credits to psychologists. It is up to each clinician to verify if their CE licensing entity will honor the credits.

Q: Why are there two parts of the program and a knowledge exam?

A: The live in-person offering covers background, epidemiology, medical management and psychosocial aspects including intervention approaches for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The additional 5-hour online education program that reviews the complexities of diabetes management and effective treatment strategies across the lifespan.

Q: Is there a separate fee for the additional 5-hour online education program?

A: If you are attending the Orlando, Fla. or San Francisco sessions in 2018, all costs are collected upon initial registration.

Q: I’ve completed the 7-hour in-person Mental Health Provider Diabetes Education Program. I’ve successfully completed the knowledge exam as well as the 5-hour online course and its respective exam. What's next? How do I get listed in the directory?

A: Successful completion of all parts of the program make you eligible to be listed in the ADA Mental Health Provider Referral Directory. This directory will serve as a resource to patients and medical professionals to facilitate referrals for appropriate mental health support.

Q: I am a pediatric psychologist, how specific is the content to pediatrics and the pediatric population?

A: This is an introductory course that covers background epidemiology, medical management and psychosocial aspects for all diabetes populations, which is beneficial for all mental health professionals. The online portion does have content specific towards the pediatric population.

Q: Does this program provide any ethics hours?

A: No, This program does not provide any ethics hours.

Q: I am unable to attend the live offerings; will the entire program be online soon?

A: The program is in its third year. We are discussing options to maximize the reach and impact of the program. At this time putting the program online is being considered.

Q: Is the program open to doctoral level graduate students?

A: While we welcome the attendance of all mental health professionals at all stages of their education, only clinically licensed mental health professionals will be eligible for listing in the ADA Mental Health Provider Referral Directory.

Have additional questions? Don't hesitate to contact the American Diabetes Association.