Applying Psychological Science, Benefiting Society
After every mass shooting, politicians mindlessly follow the lead of the NRA and call for mental health reform as a panacea for gun violence. This approach to reducing gun deaths is based on the assertion that people with serious mental illness (SMI) pose a special risk of gun violence. This inaccurate myth has serious harmful consequences, as it contributes mightily to the stigma already endured by people with SMI in America.
Since the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, psychologists have been essential in the response to HIV. They offered mental health support for people living with, or at risk for, HIV—as well as for their families and communities, and those who provide HIV medical care and social services. Psychologists developed programs to educate people about HIV and motivate behavior change to reduce risk.
Although the solid links between the LGBT community and the HIV prevention and treatment communities resulted in a strong show of solidarity after Orlando, there is another reason HIV care providers and educators should be concerned about the shooting and its aftermath: It is an instance of the stigma that can increase the risk of HIV transmission and reduce the ability of people with HIV to fight their disease.
Welcome to In Case You Missed It, our weekly roundup of articles related to psychology, health and mental health, social justice and the public interest. This week, our stories include what the Germanwings crash tells us about mental health screening of pilots, controversial anti-gay legislation signed by the Indiana Governor, the emotional impact of college admissions […]
Welcome to our new feature – In Case You Missed It, a weekly roundup of recent news articles related to issues of psychology, health and mental health, social justice and the public interest that you may be interested in. This week, we have stories ranging from a new campaign to raise awareness of the importance of […]
APA CEO Norman B. Anderson, PhD, joined first lady Michelle Obama and other leaders from the mental health community and other groups in Washington, D.C., March 4 to launch The Campaign to Change Direction, aimed at altering Americans’ attitudes toward mental health and wellness. APA is a founding member of the campaign, joining partners that […]
By Gregory M. Herek, PhD (Professor of Psychology, UC Davis) Not so long ago, homosexuality was triply stigmatized. In addition to being condemned as a sin and prosecuted as a crime, it was assumed to be an illness by the mental health professions throughout much of the 20th century. Although that assumption was never based […]
Are you a psychologist, social scientist or mental health professional who works on issues related to poverty? Here’s an opportunity for you to be a contributor to our blog. The APA Office on Socioeconomic Status has issued an open call for poverty-related blog post submissions. 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the War on Poverty and […]
By Roberta Downing, PhD (Senior Legislative and Federal Affairs Officer, APA Public Interest Directorate – Government Relations Office) There are millions of unemployed workers who cannot get hired in the current job market. Of the 10.4 million Americans who are currently unemployed, 3.9 million have been unemployed for more than 27 weeks.[i] These workers face the […]
Psychology Benefits Society 