Psychology Matters: “Psychology is critical in helping policy makers consider how to maximise impact or lead to the best outcomes for people at the individual, group, organisational, or societal level.”
As policy lead for NI BPS, occupational psychologist Rachel Lindsay shares how the new policy pillars document will support psychology’s impact on public policy in Northern Ireland.
27 June 2025
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How will the Northern Ireland Policy Pillars document support the policy group's activities?
The NI Policy Pillars document follows on from the NI BPS 'Psychological manifesto for the Northern Ireland Assembly' published in 2022.
It has enabled members to consider the ongoing relevance of our manifesto priorities and the key actions we would like to see progressed by the Assembly and policy makers.
Sadly, too many of the manifesto priorities in 2022, such as mental health, access to services and the psychological workforce, remain an ongoing challenge for policy makers. It is therefore important that NIBPS continues to advocate for psychologically informed methods to address these issues.
Why do you think psychology has an important role to play in effective policy development in Northern Ireland?
So many of the challenges in our society relate to people: for individuals, for organisations and for communities. Psychologists therefore play a key role in offering an evidence base for interventions across key areas of public policy making such as health, education, and the workplace.
Psychologically informed policy is vital for demonstrating what works and how change can be encouraged. Many of our members in Northern Ireland work in front-line services where they witness the need for psychologically informed practice on a daily basis. NIBPS members are therefore well placed to highlight the challenges and how they can be addressed.
How can our members in Northern Ireland engage more in policy development?
Members across our divisions, sections and membership grades are encouraged to contribute to policy development via calls for assistance from the BPS in responding to government consultations, both locally in Northern Ireland or nationally across the UK.
Our BPS Senior Public Affairs Adviser brings together members who have an interest in, or specialist knowledge of, particular aspects of psychology or policy topics, and works with them to collaborate on a response to policy issues.
Many members are also in senior positions across the public sector where they can advocate for a psychologically informed approach to policy development in their own organisation or across different cross-departmental groups.
Academics and researchers can continue to look for ways to share their research findings with a broad range of policy makers to demonstrate what works and the impact of solutions.
Psychologically informed policy is vital for demonstrating what works and how change can be encouraged.
Why do you think psychology matters?
As the study of the mind and human behaviour, psychology is the science of people. People are a critical component of public policy making - in considering the impacts on, and outcomes for, the public or sections of the community.
Psychology is therefore critical in helping policy makers consider how to maximise impact or lead to the best outcomes for people at the individual, group, organisational or societal level.
Tell us about the impact of your own work in psychology
As an occupational psychologist a large part of my career has been spent considering how people at work can be selected, trained, developed, supported, and led to be the best they can be in the workplace. I have been fortunate to use psychologically informed practice to develop, deliver and advise on ways to undertake these activities.
I have also been proud to help develop other psychologists through supervision, mentoring and organising continuing professional development opportunities via the NI BPS Division of Occupational Psychology.
What makes you proud about being a psychologist?
Seeing people thrive in their own lives; at home, in education, at work or in their community, using the understanding of the principles of psychology or support from a psychologist reinforces to me the value of psychology and makes me proud to be a psychologist.
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