Working in public health as a health psychologist: Challenges, solutions and opportunities

Abstract

Local government public health offers an environment rich with opportunities for applying the principles of health psychology to local health challenges, conducting impactful research, and training others in the use of behavioural techniques to support behaviour change among local populations. Indeed, the authors were inspired to begin their own health psychology journeys from their work in local authorities and have worked in public health roles as qualified health psychologists since. The shift towards applying principles from behavioural and social sciences across public health practice supports the need for more health psychologists to work within public health settings. The authors reflect on some of the challenges arising from working in such multidisciplinary settings and offer some ideas going forward.