Official voice of American Psychological Association | Promoting advancement, communication & application of
#PsychScience
to benefit society & improve lives
"Routinely blaming mass shootings on mental illness is unfounded & stigmatizing. Research has shown that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness."
As our nation tries to process the unthinkable yet again, it is clearer than ever that we are facing a public health crisis of gun violence & we must focus on finding evidence-based solutions to address it.
Full statement, APA President
@TigerBingham
:
“Blaming mental illness for the gun violence in our country is simplistic & inaccurate and goes against the scientific evidence currently available.”
Statement from APA CEO
@ArthurCEvans
in reaction to
@POTUS
’ comments on gun violence & mental illness:
Young males are often told “boys don’t cry” & that showing emotion is a sign of weakness. By understanding pressures males face & focusing on positive traits like courage, leadership & assertiveness, psychologists can help men understand that “it's OK to not be OK all the time.”
For the first time in its 127-year history, the American Psychological Association has issued guidelines to help psychologists specifically address the issues of men and boys.
With a unanimous vote, the APA Council of Representatives adopted a resolution apologizing to communities of color for APA’s role—and the role of the discipline of psychology—in contributing to systemic racism.
🧵... 1/7
APA supports
@CollegeBoard
's refusal to delete sexual orientation, gender identity content from Florida's AP Psychology curriculum and exam.
"This law is another attempt to erase
#LGBTQ
+ people based on biased thinking and irrational fear."—
@ArthurCEvans
Dr. Bandura was not only one of the most influential leaders in psychology, but also one of the most important social scientists in history.
The famed psychologist & past APA president, whose work shaped our understanding of human behavior, will be missed
Yesterday, the APA sent a letter to the White House expressing our strong opposition to the new policy of separating parents and children who are detained crossing the border. Read the letter here:
"We are appalled at this apparent attempt by the administration to remove protections based on gender identity or expression." -- APA President Jessica Henderson Daniel, PhD.
#WontBeErased
Full statement:
We are alarmed that
#SCOTUS
would nullify Roe despite decades of research demonstrating that people who are denied abortions are more likely to experience negative mental health impacts, including higher levels of anxiety and lower life satisfaction.
Congratulations to President-elect
@JoeBiden
& Vice President-elect
@KamalaHarris
. APA stands ready to work with the new administration & the new Congress to implement laws & policies that will benefit society & improve people’s lives.
Over time, our biological responses to
#stress
can impair our physical and mental health.
Fortunately, there are evidence-based tools to help us cope in healthy ways:
Asking medical professionals to ‘turn in’ parents giving their children needed & evidence-based care violates confidentiality & professional ethics. We oppose politicized intrusions into decisions that parents make with providers about children's care. 1/3
When stress persists over a long period of time, it can be overwhelming. Here are small steps you can take to address chronic stress and protect your health.
Learn more:
#Marijuana
use has doubled in the last decade, research suggests.
Psychologists are working to better understand how it impacts the brain, especially for adolescents and those who suffer from preexisting mental health conditions.
Learn more:
Thank you
@VP
Kamala Harris for the warm welcome and your support for psychology and psychologists. We are so excited to be in the nation's capital for
#APA2023
!
How does marijuana affect the brain?
New legislation is helping scientists and manufacturers understand the impact on different age groups and develop guidelines for use:
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. If you’re a parent, a teacher, or anyone who spends time with children and teens, these tools can help save lives.
Learn more:
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. If you’re a parent, a teacher, or anyone who spends time with children and teens, these tools can help save lives.
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay
Learn more:
Our recently published Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men are designed for psychologists to use in treating patients & encouraging the beneficial aspects of masculinity among their clients.
Read the full guidelines here:
As our nation tries to process the unthinkable yet again, it is clearer than ever that we are facing a public health crisis of gun violence & we must focus on finding evidence-based solutions to address it.
Full statement, APA President
@TigerBingham
:
What happens in the brain when we fall in love? How does that change over time? Research shows that our brain's reaction models our basic needs for well-being.
Learn more:
Amid growing concerns about the effects of social media on youth mental health, APA has developed 10 science-backed recommendations for parents, platforms, and policymakers on healthy social media use.
#SafeOnSocial
What happens in the brain when we fall in love? How does that change over time? Research shows that our brain's reaction models our basic needs for well-being. 🧠❤️
Learn more:
Stress can have a long-term impact on the body, but many people get through it—and come out stronger
Here's what you need to know about the science of stress, including healthy ways to cope:
Do you use
@APA_Style
for your writing? Get ready for some changes! We’re pleased to announce that the 7th edition of our Publication Manual will go on sale in October.
Get a sneak peek at some of the latest updates, 10 years in the making:
“We are living in a racism pandemic, which is taking a heavy psychological toll on our African American citizens. The health consequences are dire.” -
@sandyapa2020
on the mental health impacts of recent high-profile racial incidents
“APA & the science of psychology are ideally situated to address the triple threat of trauma, loss & inequities that currently plagues our society. It is my vision to leverage psychology to enhance people’s lives in a post-pandemic world.” —
@drthema
When we make music with other people, even over Zoom, our empathy levels go up and our stress levels go down, according to research recently published in
@APA_Journals
' American Psychologist.
Prohibiting schools from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity sends a damaging message to impressionable young people at a critical time in their development, says APA President
@FrankCWorrell
.
“Zoom fatigue" is real and it will catch up to everyone, even the most extroverted of us.
@drvailewright
explains that we're all exhausted because our brains have to work harder on video calls than in face-to-face interactions.
We are deeply concerned regarding the emerging possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will eliminate the constitutional right to obtain an abortion.
🧵...
Spread the word—today is
#MentalHealthAction
Day. Set aside one hour to turn awareness into action and prioritize your mental health.
Call a friend, go out for a device-free walk, learn a new self-care strategy—whatever works for you.
Learn more:
Those seeking to be licensed as attorneys should not be required to reveal their mental health history, including whether they have ever had a mental health diagnosis. Statistical data show no connection between treatment history and competence.
Stress is typically caused by an external trigger. Anxiety is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of a stressor. Learning the difference can help you accurately identify symptoms and find healthy ways to cope.
Thank you all for your support!
I'm excited to be elected as the new
@APA
President-Elect.
I also want to honor the other candidates for their work and contributions to the profession. Let's thrive!
#ThrivingWithThema
Scientific research from around the world shows the negative impact of being denied access to safe, legal abortion—including worse physical health, mental health, and economic outcomes.
As you start making resolutions for 2024, don't forget about the importance of nutrition.
Psychologists are learning more about the connection between a healthy diet and a healthy brain. 🥦🧠⬇️
The sharing of confidential therapy notes of traumatized children destroys the vital bond of trust between patient and therapist. Weaponizing therapy sessions is appalling and we call on the Office of Refugee Resettlement to stop this practice immediately.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. If you’re a parent, a teacher, or anyone who spends time with children and teens, these tools can help save lives.
#SuicidePrevention
Learn more:
A lack of diversity in the mental health workforce makes it difficult for many Americans to find providers who share their experiences. New tools are looking to help by connecting psychologists from diverse backgrounds with those who need their services.
Suicide is a difficult topic, but as the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24, it’s too important to ignore. Be the first line of support for young people in your life:
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay
❤️ From dopamine rushes to long-term attachment, neuroscientists explain what love looks like in the 🧠. Learn more about the neurobiology behind love here:
#love
#valentines
#brain
#psychology
The demand for psychology is rising, and psychologists are stepping into bigger, more visible roles everywhere you look—from government and media to movie sets and tech startups.
#PsychologyWeek
“Aging is as much a mental event as a physical process.”—Dr. Ellen Langer
Changing your mindset toward aging has as much impact on longevity as quitting smoking, and more impact than losing weight.
#Stress
is typically caused by an external trigger.
#Anxiety
is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of a stressor. Learning the difference can help you accurately identify symptoms and find healthy ways to cope.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. If you’re a parent, a teacher, or anyone who spends time with children and teens, these tools can help save lives.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
Learn more:
APA is gravely concerned for all Israelis and Palestinians affected by this violence.
APA deplores the human cost of aggression, including human rights violations, psychological distress, and the loss of dignity and freedom.
When
#stress
persists over a long period of time, it can cause a variety of problems, including insomnia, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. Here are small steps you can take to address chronic stress and protect your health.
Learn more:
“Science shows the most consistent and powerful predictor of future violence is a history of violent behavior, not a diagnosable -- or diagnosed -- mental illness”
@ArthurCEvans
via
@CNN
Psychologists are studying the processes and influences that lead children to develop ideas about race—and how to fight back against the biased messaging they might learn so early.
How does marijuana affect the brain?
New legislation is helping scientists and manufacturers understand the impact on different age groups and develop guidelines for use:
The psychology of happiness: The professor behind Yale's insanely popular "Psychology and the Good Life" course, talks about why we're so bad at figuring out what we actually want
To support academic libraries and their many patrons affected by
#COVID19
, we are providing temporary free access to the Publication Manual (6th and 7th editions), the Concise Guide to
@APA_Style
, and more than 160 other books.
As the father of cognitive behavioral therapy, Dr. Beck’s science transformed the field and his work brought hope and healing to countless people. His contributions to behavioral health have been monumental and his legacy will be profound and enduring.
Over time,
#stress
takes a toll on both our physical and psychological well-being. Protect your health with these science-backed tips.
Learn more about chronic stress:
In an effort to destigmatize mental illness and encourage conversation about mental health,
@HBO
is launching the "It's OK" initiative. Select episodes will have companion content explaining depicted mental illness hosted by APA member
@AliMattu
.
In the past year, psychology has played a critical role in helping to solve many of the world’s most intractable challenges. As we move into 2022, here's what lies ahead for the discipline.
“An advanced placement course that ignores the decades of science studying sexual orientation and gender identity would deprive students of knowledge they will need to succeed in their studies, in high school and beyond.”—APA CEO
@ArthurCEvans
“I want everyone to know that depression is treatable, and treatment works. Right now, there are people who are suffering with depression in red counties and blue counties. If you need help, please get help.”—
@JohnFetterman
Making a behavior change can be difficult, but it's not impossible. If you want to give yourself the best chance to succeed, focus less on "getting rid" of a habit and focus more on "finding a new routine", explains APA member
@abmarkman
.
Psychologists are increasingly being called on to help solve some of the greatest challenges we face as a society. Here are 11 emerging trends to watch for in 2023.
"I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey...We're standing with you, and the global community is also in solidarity for your healing and recovery."—APA President
@drthema
“There’s a growing recognition that
#mentalhealth
is just as important as physical health in young people’s development, but that’s happening just as mental health services are under extreme strain."—Dr. Robin Gurwitch
We can generally handle stress in small doses, but long-term or chronic stress can have serious effects on all systems of the body. Protect your health by learning to identify the warning signs and finding ways to keep your stress in check.
Psychologists are studying the processes and influences that lead children to develop ideas about race—and how to fight back against the biased messaging they might learn so early.
Adults who get just half the recommended amount of physical activity per week—the equivalent of about 75 minutes of brisk walking—see their risk of depression lowered by 18%.
Who do you turn to when you are feeling stressed?
Research shows support from family and friends can help build resilience, boost self-esteem, and protect both mental and physical health.
#stress
#mentalhealth
New research details how important close emotional connections are for health and well-being, prompting psychologists to call for making strong relationships a public health priority
Kudos for NBA Star Kevin Love for coming out about his struggles with anxiety and helping to break the stigma surrounding mental health. It's true. People don't talk about mental health enough. Especially men and boys.
September is
#SuicidePreventionMonth
, a time when we put extra focus on raising awareness of causes, warning signs, & treatment options of suicide for those dealing with suicidal thoughts and the families & friends who seek to help them. Learn more:
When life gets overwhelming, people may drop their leisure activities or isolate themselves. But cutting yourself off from loved ones or things you enjoy can be counterproductive. Instead, look for opportunities to do something for yourself.
Today, APA staff
#WearOrange
to give a voice to the 96 Americans who die and the hundreds more who are injured by gun violence every single day. Why do you
#WearOrange
? Text ORANGE to 644-33 to find a
#WearOrange
Weekend event near you.
Traits of so-called “traditional masculinity,” like suppressing emotions & masking distress, often start early in life & have been linked to less willingness by boys & men to seek help, more risk-taking & aggression -- possibly harming themselves & those with whom they interact.
Can music make us better learners? A growing number of researchers believe so.
"Children that are playing music, their brain structure actually changes and their cerebral cortex actually gets larger."—
@susanmagsamen
Misinformation can spread quickly, especially on social media.
Research suggests these factors make us more likely to believe, act on, and share false or misleading statements:
#truth
#facts
#misinformation
"About 2/3 of female victims do not report to the police... lack of reporting does not mean an assault or attempted assault did not happen or is exaggerated."
APA President Dr. Jessica Henderson Daniel on scientific research & reporting of sexual assault:
We get by with a little help from our friends—psychological research from around the world shows social connection is one of the most reliable predictors of a long, healthy, and satisfying life.
Welcome APA 2024 President
@Cynthia4APA
! She is the clear, passionate voice psychology needs right now. Her long history of service to APA and pro bono work to benefit the Latinx immigrant community are a testament to her strong values.