Psychology teaches us about ourselves and those around us. It makes sense that effective advocacy needs psychology. By having an understanding of basic psychological principals, common mental health issues, and coping techniques, we can better advocate for a wide range of social issues.
Mental Health as a Recurring Theme
If you advocate for social justice or community support, you likely have encountered mental health discussions at some point. Many minority communities have experienced trauma or are exposed to daily stressors unique to their situation. We cannot talk about domestic violence and women’s issues without discussing the psychological impact of these experiences. LGBTQ+ advocacy cannot happen without emotional support and recognition of the increased mental health risks the community’s youth face. Advocating for immigrant communities falls flat if we leave out the mental health impacts of migration, detention, and the experiences that caused them to flee their home. Understanding intersectionality and mental health helps us recognize the struggles faced by the disabled, poor, and people of color.
Discussions of mental health occur in every dimension of advocacy. Whether you are a legal advocate, non-profit organizer, medical professional, or a concerned citizen, you will encounter situations in which mental health is involved. You don’t need a degree in psychology to be an effective advocate; but understanding the importance of mental health helps.
The Art of Persuasion
At the end of the day, advocacy almost always involves trying to persuade others. Whether you are encouraging lawmakers to change regulation or convincing others to take small actions to help those in need, knowing how to be persuasive is key to change. Psychological research has taught us the various techniques that are effective in getting others to change their minds.
Empathy, logic, and bias all contribute to belief systems. It is important to understand how these belief systems – both individual and collective – are formed in order to know which persuasive techniques will be most effective. Those who care about science and statistics may be more persuaded by a logical approach using research. Individuals who are more likely to make emotional decisions may be more moved by being shown empathy themselves and hearing personal stories. It is also important to be able to recognize cognitive dissonance which often arises during conflicts. (If you are interested in learning more about cognitive dissonance and how we can use it, please see my previous post.)
Elevating the Voice of Others
Many people still hold the belief that a mental health professional’s main job is to provide advice. While they can provide guidance when necessary, their main goal is to empower the client to help themself. One of the first therapy skills you are taught is reflection. You act as a mirror for the client repeating what they say back in their own words. This is also an effective strategy used by frontline crisis workers and advocates. It may seem simple, but this trick helps the client reflect on their own thoughts while also reaffirming to both yourself and the client that their voice is the one that is most important.
Psychology focuses on empowering people to make changes for themselves. Effective advocacy works the same way. This doesn’t mean you should sit on the sidelines, but make sure you are not talking over the people you are advocating for. Let the community of focus set the message and act in a supporting role to elevate their voices. Give them support in whatever way you can and ask what they need.
Understanding Burnout
Burnout is an issue almost all advocates face at some point. If we don’t have the energy and space to care for ourselves, we cannot effectively advocate for others. Personal mental health care allows us to be at our best so that we can put more energy into helping others.
If you find yourself exhausted and stuck in a loop of negative thoughts, you may be dealing with burnout. It is important to understand burnout prevention and care so that we can continue being the best advocates we can be. Having healthy coping techniques can help prevent us from becoming worn down. Maintaining personal health, keeping up with hobbies, and creating a positive social network are also important for prevention. Fortunately, it is easier than ever to find supportive networks through social media or non-profit websites. Finding people with similar interests and experiences can help ward off feelings of isolation and anxiety that can come with burnout.
With everything going on in the world now, even people with healthy coping techniques are facing burnout. Being able to recognize burnout quickly can help us intervene before it becomes a crisis. Usually the first step to dealing with burnout involves stepping back and taking time for yourself. This may be completely taking a break. It can also be a simple reduction in your role. If you have been a public figure or in the front line at events, take a more background role until you feel energized enough to rejoin. In an advocacy group, you can tell your allies you need support and others may step up to take over projects or provide extra assistance. Many great advocates can find this difficult to do. Remember that your mental health matters and that taking time for yourself does not mean you are less of an advocate. Please reach out to your support system or crisis services if you find yourself in distress.
Psychology Needs Advocates Too
While we are recognizing the benefits psychology provides to advocacy, it is also important to remember that psychology also needs advocates. Over the past year, many mental health agencies, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), have faced massive budget cuts. As a result public health services, research, and non-profits have suffered. We have always been in a mental health crisis but over the decades we have made massive strides in psychological research and the way mental health services are provided. However, these recent cuts undo much of that progress and set back efforts to reduce mental health stigma. Individuals now face more barriers to care and we will see an increase in crises.
As I discussed in my post “On Diversity and Censorship in Research”, political bias and government overreach has caused severe damage to the entire field of psychology. Programs dedicated to addressing minority populations are being targeted and shut down. These services are essential to addressing concerns that are unique to the populations they serve. Without them, efforts to achieve legal justice, equality, and better health outcomes are undermined. Advocating for equity in psychological research and community services is advocating for cultural, social, and legal justice.
Thank you for reading. To all my fellow advocates out there, continue the good work. Take care of yourselves and your neighbors. Stay safe.
For more information on psychology and advocacy see…
2026 Advocacy priorities (American Psychological Association)
Advocacy Begins With Connection, Listening, Understanding (Psychology Today)
Psychology and Effective Lawyering: Insights for Legal Educators (Journal of Legal Education)
Raise your voice for psychology as an everyday advocate (American Psychological Association)
Social Justice, Advocacy, and Early Career Practice (Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy)
The Psychological Science of Persuasion (Advocate Magazine)
And finally, if you are in need of support please see Resources.
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