The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated in stark terms the intricate complexity of human behavior. Worldwide, people are reacting to highly stressful life and death events, fueled by unknown risks and uncertainty. People are hungry for leadership and social connectedness and too many are coping with deeply rooted inequities that determine the quality of their health and their livelihoods.
As the discipline that best understands human behavior, psychology can have a significant impact on improving life in this age of COVID-19. This work is well underway.
Across the breadth of our field, APA members, governance and staff are speaking out on key issues in the media and with policymakers. We have tapped into the expertise of our members and international colleagues to develop, curate and widely share a wealth of COVID-19-related resources, tools and information for psychologists, policymakers and the public. We are applying psychological science to policies, practices and interventions. Our practitioners are using different technologies to reach those who most need our help. And we are supporting efforts to bring psychological knowledge and tools to our communities as we all work for a better future.
APA is focused on the here and now—helping our communities to adjust and heal. But we are also concentrating on what’s coming next, working to identify the future needs of individuals, families, community members and psychologists. We’re exploring such questions as: What will work, education and health care look like? How will we address the increasing wave of mental health needs and loss of wellness among the public and our first responders? How can we help policymakers collect and use data in ways that reduce social inequities and disparate impact?
In short, how do we ensure APA and its members are a resource for our field, our nation and the world?
Over the last several months, the world has experienced great trauma and pain. But we’ve also seen great resilience and hope. Armed with the power of psychology’s collective expertise, we are confident and determined to bring our knowledge to a world that needs our help. APA is dedicated to providing the leadership and support needed to help create a safe and healthy future for us all.
