Community Psychology
Addressing social justice, prevention, and systemic change for community wellbeing
Addressing social justice, prevention, and systemic change for community wellbeing
Community psychology focuses on preventing mental health issues through social and systemic intervention. It emphasises empowerment, social justice, and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to psychological distress, rather than focusing solely on individual treatment.
Community psychology assessment involves understanding both individual and environmental factors:
Community psychology assessment uses participatory and ecological approaches to understand how environmental and social factors influence mental health and wellbeing.
Understanding how multiple environments (family, school, work, community) interact to influence individual and group wellbeing.
Engaging community members as partners in identifying needs, developing solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
Community-Based Assessment Tools: Asset mapping, focus groups, photovoice projects, community forums, social network analysis, and participatory action research methods.
Building authentic relationships with community members and stakeholders to understand local context, strengths, and priorities.
Working alongside community members to identify assets, barriers, and opportunities for promoting wellbeing and preventing problems.
Co-designing interventions that address root causes and build on community strengths. Approaches may include:
Supporting community-led implementation and using participatory evaluation methods to assess impact and guide continuous improvement.
Community psychology addresses a wide range of social and mental health concerns:
Addressing discrimination, inequality, and systemic oppression that impact mental health
Preventing mental health problems before they develop through community-based programs
Supporting housing security and addressing mental health impacts of homelessness
Creating supportive learning environments and addressing educational inequities
Promoting psychological safety and addressing workplace stressors and culture
Building social connections, collective efficacy, and community resilience
Community psychology emphasises partnership and shared power between psychologists and community members in all aspects of work.
Rather than waiting for problems to develop, community psychology focuses on creating conditions that promote wellbeing for all.
Work often involves advocacy for policy changes and systemic reforms that address root causes of mental health challenges.
Connect with qualified community psychologists who focus on prevention, empowerment, and addressing systemic barriers to wellbeing