Top Psychology Trends for 2024

American Psychological Association
1 Jan 202405:00

Summary

TLDRThe American Psychological Association addresses key challenges in psychology, including combating misinformation with federal funding, humanizing AI through behavioral insights, and addressing faculty burnout amid a mental health crisis. Psychologists face backlash against racial equity, advocate for affordable mental health care, and navigate the complexities of monetizing mental health. They prioritize worker well-being, innovate in substance use treatment, and respond to the shortage of school psychologists. Policymakers' impact on women and LGBTQ+ individuals is countered through advocacy, while telehealth and AI-backed tools evolve therapy, and research focuses on improving brain health for aging populations.

Takeaways

  • πŸ“’ Misinformation is a growing concern, with psychologists receiving federal funding to study its spread and develop strategies to combat it.
  • πŸ€– Psychologists are integrating human values into AI development, aiming to use behavioral insights to shape technology ethically.
  • 🏫 Higher education faces challenges like faculty burnout and turnover, with 64% of faculty reporting feeling burned out.
  • πŸ”„ There's a backlash against racial equity, with cuts in related funding and positions, and legal decisions creating obstacles for progress.
  • 🩹 To reach more patients, psychologists advocate for insurance coverage of digital therapeutics and innovative therapy approaches.
  • πŸ’Ό Mental health tech companies are improving clinical and business practices following layoffs and ethical issues, focusing on products developed by experts.
  • πŸ› οΈ Boosting worker well-being is prioritized, with psychologists studying employee benefits and healthy workplace cultivation amid concerns about AI job replacement.
  • πŸ’Š Psychologists are innovating to address the rise in drug overdoses, particularly those involving fentanyl, by developing new addiction recovery interventions.
  • 🏫 There's a push to hire more school psychologists due to a shortage and increased stressors, with federal funding supporting training and hiring.
  • πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ Policymakers' actions are impacting women and LGBTQ+ individuals, with psychologists countering through advocacy, legislation, and patient support.
  • πŸ“± Telehealth is becoming a standard therapy method with PSYPACT's expansion, and AI-backed tools are aiding therapists by reducing administrative burdens.
  • 🧠 As the US population ages, there's a projected need for more specialists in geriatric care, with researchers working on interventions for cognitive health.

Q & A

  • What is one of the top challenges facing the field of psychology according to the American Psychological Association?

    -One of the top challenges is fighting misinformation, which has become more insidious, especially during the presidential election year.

  • How are psychologists addressing the spread of misinformation?

    -Psychologists are studying the spread of misinformation and widely sharing science-backed methods to best combat it, utilizing millions in new federal funding.

  • In what ways are psychologists humanizing artificial intelligence?

    -Psychologists are leading efforts to use behavioral insights to shape the latest AI technology, integrating it into lab, clinic, and classroom settings.

  • What is the current state of higher education according to the script?

    -Higher education is struggling with faculty burnout, high turnover, and fear among educators, fueled by dramatic changes in society and a widespread mental health crisis.

  • What percentage of faculty reported feeling burned out in a recent survey mentioned in the script?

    -In a recent survey, 64% of faculty reported feeling burned out.

  • How is the backlash against racial equity impacting the field of psychology?

    -The backlash against racial equity is growing, with institutions cutting equity, diversity, and inclusion funds and positions, and state and federal legislation creating roadblocks for those seeking racial equity.

  • What is the current mental health crisis situation in the US, as described in the script?

    -There is a mental health crisis in the US, with 80% of those seeking care saying it's too expensive, and more than half feeling ashamed to get help.

  • How are psychologists trying to reach more patients amidst the mental health crisis?

    -Some psychologists are advocating for insurance coverage for digital therapeutics and other new approaches to existing therapies to serve more patients.

  • What challenges are mental health tech companies facing that are prompting better clinical and business practices?

    -High-profile layoffs and ethical breaches are spurring better clinical and business practices among mental health tech companies.

  • What is a significant concern among workers regarding AI, as mentioned in the script?

    -A significant concern among workers is that AI might replace them, with 38% expressing this worry in a recent survey.

  • How are psychologists innovating to tackle substance use, especially with the rise in drug overdose deaths?

    -Psychologists are developing new interventions to help people recover from addictions, in response to the recent data showing a 54% jump in drug overdose deaths.

  • What is the current ratio of school psychologists to students in the US, and what is being done to address this?

    -There is one psychologist for every 1,127 students across the US. Increased federal funding and a push to train and hire more school psychologists are being implemented to address this shortage.

  • How are policymakers' actions impacting women and LGBTQ individuals, according to the script?

    -Policymakers are taking actions that restrict abortion and gender-affirming care, severely altering the right to make decisions for marginalized communities, often with the opposite impact of what is intended for their mental and physical health.

  • How is the field of psychology adapting to the rise of telehealth?

    -With PSYPACT now having 40 member states, telehealth has become an expected method of therapy, and AI-backed tools are being used to reduce the time therapists spend on administrative tasks.

  • What is the projected need for specialists in treating older adults by 2030, according to the APA estimates?

    -The APA estimates that by 2030, the US will need nearly 6,000 more specialists in treating older adults.

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Related Tags
Psychology ChallengesMisinformation FightAI HumanizationFaculty BurnoutRacial Equity BacklashMental Health AccessDigital TherapeuticsWorkplace WellbeingSubstance Use InnovationSchool PsychologistsLGBTQ AdvocacyTelehealth ExpansionBrain Health Aging