Carol Williams
Chair, APAGS
University of Notre Dame Counseling Center
One of the APA's ongoing objectives, prompted by the Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP) and implemented by the Practice Directorate, is to educate the public about the value of psychological services and the importance of good mental health. Several public education campaigns have been launched to meet this goal through the “Talk to Someone Who Can Help” national campaign, which has also been helpful in educating the public about the roles and qualifications of practicing psychologists. As part of the campaign, the APA's Help Center website (www.helping.apa.org) provides sound on-line psychology information and resources, which directly benefits the public through this easily accessible modality. In fact, the website has received rave reviews and recognition by USA Today, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times, among many other media outlets. The “Warning Signs” Project is the most recent initiative of the public education campaign. It has achieved overwhelming success and continues to gain nationwide media attention.
The Practice Directorate partnered with MTV (Music Television) to provide important information to our nation's youth about the warning signs of violent behavior. Several mediums for disseminating this information were created and continue to be widely used. A 30-minute documentary about youth violence was co-produced by MTV and APA and is aired on MTV as part of their “True Life” series. It was debuted on MTV shortly after the tragic Columbine shootings in April 1999 and seen by over four million youth that month alone. A “Warning Signs” kit was created for APA-member psychologists to use in facilitating anti-violence youth forums. Nearly 60,000 youth have viewed the “Warning Signs” documentary as they have participated in 600+ psychologist-led forums. A “Warning Signs” guide on violence prevention was developed and is available through APA free of charge to the public and professionals. Throughout 1999, over 400,000 “Warning Signs” guides were distributed. A special toll-free number (800-268-0078) was established for youth seeking a free “Warning Signs” guide.
Recently, a “MTV Fight for Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Violence” compact disk featuring hits from several prominent musical artists was produced to support the “Warning Signs” campaign and message. This compact disk is sponsored by MTV (FightForYourRights.MTV.com), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the US Department of Justice (www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org), America's Promise: The Alliance for Youth (www.americaspromise.org), the APA, and several other youth-advocacy groups. The Practice Directorate has expanded the project by creating new “Warning Signs” materials aimed at helping parents talk with their children about violence. “Warning Signs for Parents” was introduced by Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., APA's Executive Director for Professional Practice, as part of a March statewide “Safe School Summit” in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, Comedian Bill Cosby, and APA's Dr. Newman hosted a forum for adults to address parental involvement in the “Warning Signs” Youth Anti-Violence Initiative. It is anticipated that the “Warning Signs” public education campaign will continue to expand, gain momentum and serve to broadly influence and educate the public.
How can graduate students become involved in the “Warning Signs” public education campaign? If a practicum student wishes to organize and facilitate a youth forum under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, kits can be requested by calling 1-877-274-8787, Ext. 135. Additional information regarding the “Warning Signs” and other public education campaigns can be obtained by visiting APA's campaign website (/www.apa.org/campaign/mtvupdate). Be sure to return the kit evaluation form to APA if you conduct a forum, indicating that you facilitated the forum as a graduate student under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. APAGS is also interested in feedback about your experiences. Consider writing a letter to the APAGS Newsletter Editor, or me.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2000 Edition of the APAGS Newsletter, Vol. 12(2)
