Anxiety and Depression Association of America

ADAA has two specific interrelated goals. The first goal is to serve as a key, relevant, and free educational resource to improve the overall health and well being of the more than 40 million people in the United States (and the more than 450 million people worldwide) who suffer from anxiety and anxiety related disorders. ADAA strives to educate the public that anxiety, depression and related disorders are common, serious and treatable. The second goal is to encourage the advancement of scientific knowledge about the causes and treatment options for anxiety, depression, and related disorders. ADAA helps top U.S. and international researchers and clinicians debate and access new evidence-based practices, technological advances, research, and novel treatment options.

The number of consumers who use ADAA's education resources is growing steadily. Over the past few years website visitors has grown more than 30% to 25 million people a year. ADAA is increasing its educational reach to the public by growing its social media presence. ADAA is developing new US and international partnerships with mental health organizations to capture their evidence-based educational resources. ADAA is also steadily growing its US and international professional membership to allow for increased global dissemination and discussion of new evidence-based treatments and promising research. ADAA has also developed a new electronic professional membership/community platform to allow for enhanced sharing of research and clinical advances.

ADAA has increased its staffing to help position ADAA as a leader in providing continuing education content to mental health professionals in the fields of anxiety, depression and co-occurring disorders. ADAA's annual professional conference grows in attendance by 100 or more each year and has become one of the most important conferences in the anxiety and depression field. The added staffing has also allowed ADAA to nurture more Special Interest Groups that facilitate ADDA's professional members interested in a specific disorder or population to share information amongst their group as well as the membership at large. The new staffing has also allowed ADAA to expand its international membership.

Additional staff has also allowed ADAA to develop a series of free interactive educational webinars for the public, including launching ADAA's Spanish webinars and website content. ADAA now offers a free online support community and provides ongoing social media events.

ADAA is continually developing new programs for consumers as well as providing enhanced educational opportunities for professionals. ADAA has successfully grown the number of its Special Interest Groups (SIGS), comprised of professional members, allowing for more in-depth discussion for experts interested in a specific disorder or population, such as children or seniors. The number of SIG's has grown from five to 10 from 2015-2018, with the possibility of increasing to 11 by the end of 2018. From 2015 to date, the number of professionals who participate in ADAA's webinars has grown by 40%. The number of ADAA's international members has grown by 4% over the past two years allowing for a more robust international discussion of treatment options and research. ADAA now offers CE credist through the American Psychological Association for all of its live and recorded webinars and plans on offering CME credits as well in 2019.