APA calls for population health approach to working with immigrants; condemns harmful policies

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APA calls for population health approach to working with immigrants; condemns harmful policies

Seattle — The American Psychological Association has adopted a resolution supporting a population health-based approach to working with immigrants, which aims to address the cultural, economic, systemic, historical, environmental, relational and occupational contexts that influence health status, well-being, and functioning across a person’s lifespan.

The measure (PDF, 76KB) was passed by APA’s governing Council of Representatives on Aug. 7 by a vote of 156-6, with 1 abstention.

“Psychologists possess foundational knowledge about theories in psychological science that offer key insights into working with immigrants, including the socioecological model and its recognition of the pivotal function role of families and schools in child development,” the resolution states.

The resolution condemns policies that harm immigrants and their families, including forced family separation. It calls for federal and state funding for research to better understand immigrants’ health needs, including research on topics such as the evaluation of training and the effects of trauma. It calls for implementing community-based initiatives that strive to improve immigrants’ health and wellness.

“The psychological well-being of immigrants is a critical aspect of their successful integration into society,” said APA President Cynthia de las Fuentes, PhD. “As psychologists, we have a responsibility to address the particular challenges faced by immigrants and provide culturally responsive support.”

At the same meeting, the council voted to accept a report by a presidential task force on immigration that underscores the importance of mental health support for immigrants and details the role of psychological science in addressing this issue.

The report, titled “Psychological Science and Immigration Today” (PDF, 1.67MB), sheds light on the intersection of psychological science and immigration and highlights the importance of mental health support for immigrants and the role of psychological science in addressing this issue.

It offers several conclusions regarding the state of immigration and immigrants in the United States, based on available science, including:

  • Immigrants are vulnerable to but not inherently prone to physical and mental health concerns.
  • Immigrants have developed resilience-building strategies that can inform health care in the U.S.
  • Anti-immigrant policies are harmful to immigrants and to U.S. citizens.
  • Programs that help immigrants navigate the cultural and sociopolitical context in the U.S. are helpful to their health, supporting their economic and social contributions.
  • Immigration is more unifying than commonly believed.

One of the key findings of the report is the resilience and strength of undocumented Latinx immigrants in the face of adversity. It cites a study that provides insights into how undocumented Latinx immigrants build resilience and overcome distress, underscoring the importance of understanding and addressing the unique mental health needs of this population.

It also discusses the impact of the social determinants of mental health, citing a study that found that discrimination predicts distress beyond trauma among undocumented Mexican immigrants. This finding highlights the need for mental health services that address the specific traumas and stressors faced by immigrants.

“As mental health professionals and behavioral scientists, we have much to contribute to the dialogue on fostering better integration of immigrants into the fabric of American life,” said de las Fuentes. “As psychologists, we also have much to learn about how best to offer assessment, education and mental health services to people whose cultures, languages and lifestyles are different from our own.”

The report serves as a call to action for psychologists, mental health professionals, policymakers and the public to recognize and address the mental health needs of immigrants. By leveraging the insights of psychological science, the task force members said they hope to “motivate research, clinical practice, education and advocacy that is responsive to the new immigration landscape by capitalizing upon the strengths of immigrant communities and the strengths of our history, skills and profession as psychologists.”


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