APA is promoting a population health approach—pushing for the field of psychology to use a broader set of strategies to improve health outcomes for all. Gaps in the research must be filled if we are to expand our paradigm for addressing behavioral health and create a psychologically healthy nation.
The following 15- to 20-minute videos, created by the APA Population Health Steering Committee, offer a summary of why it is important to move the field to a population health perspective and the psychological science underlying numerous strategies that support a population health framework. Each video also addresses specific research questions relevant for all psychological scientists to contribute to the collective research action that is required to elevate the psychological health of all individuals, families, and communities.
Related content
- APA Population Health Science Summit
- “Embracing a population health approach to improving youth mental health” (Monitor on Psychology, September 2024)
- Population health and psychology’s role
- Population mental health science
- Psychology’s Role in Advancing Population Health (PDF, 150KB)opens in new window
From APA's Population Health Steering Committee
Improving the Population Mental Health and Well Being of Our Children
October 2024
Presenter: Ken Dodge, PhD
This video emphasizes the urgent need for a shift to a population health approach in psychological science, aiming to improve the overall mental health and well-being of children. It highlights the importance of innovative, scalable interventions and systemic changes to address the growing mental health crisis among youth, advocating for comprehensive strategies that include both bottom-up and top-down approaches.
Measuring Population Mental Health
October 2024
Presenter: Isaac Ahuvia, MA
This video explores innovative methods for measuring mental health at the population level, emphasizing the need for scalable data collection and community-level metrics to effectively address mental health disparities. It highlights the importance of integrating individual and community data to create comprehensive mental health strategies.
Universal Screening To Prevent Mental Health Problems
October 2024
Presenters:
- Daniel Shaw, PhD
- Sonia Rowley
Emphasizing the importance of universal mental health screening, this video presents evidence that early identification and intervention can significantly improve children’s mental health trajectories. It discusses the challenges and solutions in implementing effective screening programs, showcasing models that link screening results to targeted, culturally informed interventions.
Culturally-Adaptive Interventions for Population Health Science
October 2024
Presenter: Ashanti J. Brown, MA
This video explores how psychological science is evolving to address population health by integrating culturally-adaptive interventions. It highlights innovative strategies that bridge cultural gaps and enhance the effectiveness of health interventions across diverse communities.