1.Name and discuss three different ways that community psychologists are involved in the health care system. Use scholarly resources to support your explanation.
2.Why do you think community psychology is connected to the health care system? Does this seem like a natural fit? Why or why not? Use scholarly resources to support your explanation.
Answers:
1.Community psychology in essence is focused on the relationship between the social systems and the individual well-being within the community. Community psychologists handle both social and mental health problems (The American Psychological Association, 2008). These are handled through research and intervention in both the public and private community systems. Their roles can either be applied service delivery or research based on social environment processes. Community psychology covers a broad range of settings and substantive areas such as conducting research in a mental hospital can be called in as expert witnesses in court proceedings, evaluating a hospital program, evaluating and implementing various school-based programs (Kendell, 2000). They focus on prevention, serving at-risk groups, and building capacity to help those suffering from short- term or chronic mental health problems. For all the above reasons, there is a sense of vibrant urgency and uniqueness among community psychologists, as if they are as much a part of a social movement as of a professional or scientific discipline (Wahass, 2010).
2.The role of community psychology in preventive measures is vital. The collaboration between psychology and medicine in the society has helped improve health outcomes as well as reducing mortality (Rodrigue, 2016). Traditionally, the health system within the context of medication was designed to treat diseases, of late the cost of health care has necessitated a dynamic shift from treating to preventive measures. Community psychologists are well placed in the society to help in this sector of protection rather than treatment. The psychologist’s vast experience in research and evaluation has allowed significant contributions to empirically based treatments (Sodel, 2010). The cost of health is on a constant high, the role of community psychology has shown it is possible to reduce the cost of health and medical utilization. Health promotion practices have since being introduced in health policy initiatives, primary prevention is subject to psychology hence their significance in health care systems (Brown, Freeman, & Bellar, 2012).
References:
Brown, R. T., Freeman, W. S., & Bellar, R. A. (2012). The Role of Psychology in Health Care Delivery. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 536-545.
Rodrigue, J. R. (2016). Promoting healthier behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs toward sun exposure in parents of young children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1431-1436.
Kendell, R. (2000). The next 25 years. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 6-9.
The American Psychological Association. (2008). Practicing psychology in hospitals and other health care facilities. Washington: The American Psychological Association.
Wahass, S. H. (2010). The role of psychologists in health care delivery. Journal of Family Community Medicine , 63-70.
Sodel, D. S. (2010). Rethinking medicine: Improving health outcomes with cost-effective psychosocial interventions. e. Psychosomatic Medicine, 234-244.
