Feature
A recent survey of 1,900 Americans by the APA Practice Directorate and the Infinite Mind Radio Show found that 81 percent said they're trying to move beyond the terrorist events. Sept. 11 compelled many people to look inward and examine their values and their ability to be resilient in challenging times, the survey found.
While resiliency seems to come naturally to some, there are steps people can take to become more resilient. The good news is that the skills necessary to be resilient can be learned, said Russ Newman, PhD, JD, APA's executive director for practice. Hence the APA Practice Directorate and Discovery Health will co-produce a documentary on resiliency and self-discovery as part of a public education campaign initiative.
The documentary--still in the early planning stages--is slated to air this year on Sept. 11. The program will feature people who were directly affected by Sept. 11 as well as people in everyday situations that require resiliency. It will be one of many tools members can use to take resiliency messages into their local communities, said Jan Peterson, assistant executive director for public relations and communications in the Practice Directorate.
Like the APA Warning Signs campaign, this project will "respond to a pressing national need," she said. In shedding light on resiliency skills for thousands of viewers, the program will also put a face on psychology. "There's no profession better qualified" to help the public, Peterson noted.
The documentary will take APA's public education campaign to the next level, said Newman. "It builds on the campaign, extends the message and expands its reach. The time is right for psychology to contribute to the nation's recovery," he added. "Never before have people been so interested in taking a psychological journey."
--J. DAW
