It is exciting yet humbling to serve as president of this great association. This isn’t the year we expected, but I am proud of how members and staff have pulled together to address issues facing society. Our actions have already made a difference, and we are just at the beginning of what our combined efforts can do to meet the needs of a challenged world.
In February 2020, I decided that my primary presidential initiative would focus on psychology’s role in achieving health equity. I believe the entire discipline has a role in achieving a society in which all its members can benefit from psychology’s best practices, research discoveries, and training practices. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit a month later, it became evident that health disparities were having a major impact on who was getting sick and who was dying. I believe that psychology can make a positive difference.
Health disparities in our society are alarming: While only 5.9% of non-Hispanic Whites are uninsured, that number rises to 16.1% for Latinos, 14.9% for Native Americans, and 10.6% for African Americans. Native Americans 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.
Black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at twice the rate of Whites, and other minority groups have also been hit hard. These numbers do not include the mental health toll on victims, their families and loved ones, or the effects on the general public of protective measures like stay-at-home orders.
I have appointed a Presidential Task Force on Psychology and Health Equity charged with developing specific recommendations to promote innovative approaches for psychological science, practice, education, and training. In addition, the group will be responsible for developing policy recommendations and a legislative agenda for advancing health equity for consideration and approval by the APA Council of Representatives. The task force members are leaders in the field with deep and varied expertise, and I am energized by the prospect of working with them. I will keep you informed as the work progresses, including opportunities for participation and input.
Thank you for your trust and confidence in selecting me to serve as your president during this unprecedented year.
Education, Science, Practice, and Public Interest:
United to benefit society and improve people’s lives.
Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP, is the 2021 APA president and director of the Atlanta Center for Behavioral Medicine. Follow her on Twitter: @JFK4APA.
