What is the role of psychologists during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

The necessity of taking actions reflecting public voices

Abstract

This paper discusses what psychologists should do to help the general public in response to the new coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) in Japan. Four things psychologists could do are listed in the Japanese Psychological Association article entitled “Against Violence in the Home.” However, the style of the article seems insufficient for psychologists to perceive the article as general behavioral guidelines for helping people suffering from psychological stress. Psychologists should be encouraged to publicly disseminate relevant information because the current domestic policies may cause confusion for the public as they provide insufficient behavioral principles and research-based perspectives. This paper proposes three different levels of roles for taking actions as psychologists: as a professional individual, as a member of an academic society, and as a public figure disseminating relevant information. To be impactful in carrying out these roles, setting up a “place” where individual practices and opinions can be quickly aggregated is required. Moreover, it is important for psychologists to listen to public voices and be prepared to focus their professional lives on tackling social issues.