Role of Psychologists in Addressing the Mental and Behavioral
Health Concerns of the 21st Century The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, in its national health promotion and
disease prevention initiation, “Healthy People 2010,” has
determined ten Leading Health Indicators that will be used to
measure the health of the Nation in the beginning of the 21st
century. As a group, the Leading Health Indicators reflect the
major health concerns of the United States at the beginning of
the 21st century. The ten Leading Health Indicators include:
physical activity, overweight and obesity, tobacco use,
substance abuse, responsible sexual behavior, mental health,
injury and violence, environmental quality, immunization and
access to health care. Mental health is among these leading
health indicators but mental and behavioral factors play a role
in the other indicators as well except for access to health
care. As health professionals, psychologists play a critical
role in addressing the mental and behavioral he