Psychological contributions to advancing global health.

Abstract

Achieving global health requires attention to the interdependency of the health and well-being of nature and its inhabitants. As outlined by the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, States, Impacts, and Response) model, achieving this goal will be aided by a better understanding of (a) human and natural drivers of geophysical pressures that alter environmental states, (b) the impacts of environmental conditions on human and nonhuman life, and (c) responses that can be made to alter drivers, pressures, states, and impacts. Yet, the model could be expanded to consider psychological perspectives and social contexts more explicitly. This introductory article integrates these perspectives into the DPSIR model. It then shows how each article in the current issue contributes to the expanded model, including helping incorporate social justice into the goal of achieving global health.