Monitor on Psychology - May 2012 - (Page 46)

SCIENCE WATCH health, worldwide Psychology is ramping up efforts to improve global health and well-being. B Y K IRS T E N WE IR Improving A serious shortage of health-care providers threatens well-being around the world. With the planet’s population soaring, the global health crisis stands to get even worse. According to the World Health Organization, 57 countries have fewer than 23 health workers for every 10,000 citizens, and 13 low- and middle-income countries have fewer than one hospital per million people. Those proportions are expected to deteriorate by 2045, when the world’s population is predicted to swell to 9 billion, from 7 billion today. Clearly, there’s work to be done to meet the world’s burgeoning health-care needs, especially within the developing world. But more medicine and more doctors aren’t the only answers. Most global health concerns — including HIV, obesity, malnutrition and sanitation — have a behavioral component, says Robert Balster, PhD, a psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University and currently a Jefferson science fellow at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As a result, he says, “focusing on behavior change would have huge benefits.” “Regardless of the kind of health-care intervention, psychology needs to be at the table,” adds Chris Stout, PsyD, who directs the Center for Global Initiatives and is a clinical professor at the College of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago. “Psychologists are probably better trained than any other health-care professional to have cultural awareness and sensitivity, and that queues us up to be really helpful when we deal with global health issues.” M O N I T O R O N P S Y C H O L O G Y • M AY 2 0 1 2 46

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - May 2012

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012
Letters
President’s Column
Contents
From the CEO
Math + science + motherhood = a tough combination
The rights of indigenous people take center stage at AAAS meeting
Interdisciplinary programs that are leading the way
Good Governance Project moves into its next phase
APA publishes third edition of seminal ADHD book for kids
Government Relations Update
In Brief
Random Sample
Judicial Notebook
Psychology’s first forays into film
Time Capsule
Questionnaire
Presidential programming
Obesity researchers receive lifetime achievement awards
Top speakers for psychology’s top meeting
Science Watch
Homing in on sickle cell disease
Psychologist Profile
Alone in the ‘hole’
Public Interest
State Leadership Conference ‘12
Perspective on Practice
Education tops council’s agenda
Meet the candidates for APA’s 2014 president
Presidential election guidelines
Division Spotlight
American Psychological Foundation
Support for sexual miniorities
Personalities

Monitor on Psychology - May 2012