WASHINGTON — Following is a statement by Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, 2021 president of the American Psychological Association, announcing her work to take on psychology’s role in achieving health equity in the United States:
“Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) experience layers of trauma due not only to historical mistreatment within the health care system, but as a result of well-documented social determinants of health. At the root of many of these issues is systemic racism, which affects how the health care system responds to individuals and provides access to resources necessary for optimum health. As we study health inequities in our country, we must be mindful of the overall impact of systemic racism on our nation and on diverse communities.
“Health disparities in our society are alarming: While only 5.9% of non-Hispanic Whites are uninsured, that number rises to 16.1% for Latinx, 14.9% for Native/Indigenous people and 10.6% for African Americans. Native/Indigenous people continue to die at higher rates than other Americans in many categories, and the suicide rate in their community far outpaces that of other groups.
“COVID-19 is just one of many stunning examples of the impact of a health care system that does not ensure equal access to health and health care for all. The pandemic has exacerbated existing racial, ethnic and socioeconomic health disparities in the United States.
“Given the urgency, I am launching a Presidential Task Force on Psychology and Health Equity to take on this critical issue, which will produce a comprehensive report articulating a vision for the role of psychology in advancing health equity. The task force will gather input from health care experts and the available scientific literature in order to make recommendations for psychological science, education and training, practice, public policy and legislative advocacy. The co-chairs are Kisha B. Holden, PhD, professor and director of research and scholarship in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and Geoffrey M. Reed, PhD, professor of medical psychology, department of psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons."
See the full roster of members online (PDF, 105KB)opens in new window.