Health psychology and behavioral medicine are concerned with understanding how health and illness can influence a person's psychological experience. Health and illness are influenced by a wide variety of factors, including contagious and inherited diseases, as well as behavioral and psychological factors. Health psychologists play an important role in preventive care, helping people achieve well-being, even in the early stages of illness. They also work to improve the health system and guide physicians to better communicate with their patients.
Health psychology is an essential part of preventive care, with the goal of helping people achieve well-being. It can also help people manage stress, relate to others, make decisions, and cope with mental health problems that can cause a major disruption to academic, social and general well-being. When a student is admitted to a local hospital, they are invited to sign an information release that allows the hospital to notify Student Care & Advocacy of the student's status and get help advocating on behalf of the student. Student Care & Advocacy works closely with Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) to provide students with the support they need.
Health psychologists focus on educating people about their own health and well-being, so they are perfectly prepared to meet this growing demand. They can help motivate people to make health-conscious choices, such as not smoking, eating the right foods, and exercising more to prevent diseases. Health psychology also explores what motivates people and why some people make healthy life choices and others don't. In health psychology, you have a good chance of working in academic departments such as psychology, biobehavioral health, kinesiology and human development.
The BC division of the Canadian Mental Health Association helps people access the community resources they need to maintain and improve mental health, build resilience and support recovery from mental illness.
