In an effort to bolster psychology's presence in Australia, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) marked the country's second annual National Psychology Week last month by releasing to more than 100 Australian media outlets the results of a study examining why people live where they live.

The project is much in line with the "Making Psychology a Household Word" initiative of APA President Ronald F. Levant, EdD, says APS Executive Director Lyn Littlefield, PhD, who visited with APA CEO Norman Anderson, PhD, during APA's 2005 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., in part, to exchange ideas about how to publicize psychology.

In addition to the study's release, Australia's Psychology Week included more than 130 events and activities to promote psychology, including a series of radio spots and publicity stalls in shopping centers. APS also encouraged members with research of interest to the public to release it during the same week.

APS is publishing the informal study of people's chosen hometowns–which examined the psychological and social environment, as well as the physical environment–in InPsych, the APS equivalent of the Monitor.

The effects of the National Psychology Week campaigns, Littlefield says, are already being seen in Australia.

"Over time, psychology is becoming more of a household word," she says. "And certainly the stigma of seeing a psychologist is [diminishing]. It's clear, since things like depression are being talked about, whereas a few years back they weren't."