Marginalized populations around the world disproportionately experience adverse social determinants of health, which contribute to poor physical and mental health outcomes. As part of my presidential initiative on health equity, I was delighted to offer opening remarks at the July 12 United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Developmentopens in new window, which was developed and cosponsored by APA, along with the International Association of Applied Psychology and the United African Congress.
The virtual event, Building Back Better after COVID-19 through Addressing Health Equity, Mental Health and Well-Being: Contributions of Psychological Science and Practice to Leave No One Behindopens in new window, was sponsored by the Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the U.N. and cosponsored by 14 other missions, as well as the World Health Organization.
The presenters—including global political leaders, ambassadors to the U.N., and psychological scientists—explained the critical role of psychology in advancing health equity, which is at the nexus of the U.N.’s goals of ensuring healthy lives and well-being and reducing inequality within and between nations.
Geoff Reed, PhD, the co-chair of my Presidential Task Force on Health Equity, explained that, on average, people with mental disorders suffer disproportionately high rates of mortality and that COVID-19 has disrupted or halted mental health services in 93% of countries. He urged nations to provide universal health coverage that includes mental health and to increase the share of health spending allocated to mental health, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
Other distinguished scientific speakers addressed the specific needs of migrant populations and the importance of vaccine equity across nations to recover from COVID-19.
The U.N. ambassador from the Mission of Mexico to the U.N. welcomed the application of psychological science to address the need for increased access to mental health care. The vice president of Costa Rica discussed her country’s new task force on women and mental health, and the ambassador of Lebanon to the U.N. highlighted the physical and mental health needs of those suffering long-term harms from COVID-19.
APA will continue to strengthen our global partnerships to promote the application of psychology to advance health equity. A recording of the U.N. event and background materials are available at APA's activities at the UN.
