Psychologists as Educators: Creating Change in Community Mental Health

Although the literature regarding the roles of psychologists in interprofessional education in health care is expanding, few specifics are known about how psychologists act as educators of other professional staff members in mental health care settings. Psychologists in community mental health centers play crucial roles in supporting the creation of recovery-oriented systems of care as educators with expertise in evidence-based practice uptake, behavior change, policy, and advocacy. Using Chu et al.'s (2012a) public psychology competencies as a framework, we present examples of psychologists as educators of other professionals in implementing evidence-based practices, collaborating with people in recovery, enhancing cultural competence, and reducing mental health disparities. Interprofessional education in this context provides an important mechanism for enhancing the capacity of mental health systems to provide recovery-oriented, evidence-based care to individuals living with mental illness. Public Significance Statement Psychologists in public sector mental health environments can make important contributions to interprofessional education, thereby enhancing the ability of community mental health systems to offer recovery-oriented, culturally competent care to individuals with serious mental health concerns.