Health Psychology, Vol 45(8), Aug 2026, 830-836; doi:10.1037/hea0001617
Consistent with a social–ecological framework, there is an urgent need to shift psychological science from an individual focus to one that addresses population-level health and mental health. Population health research necessitates transdisciplinary collaboration as well as advances in theory, methods, and analytic approaches to address the complex and interrelated determinants of human health. This commentary introduces a new monthly series in Health Psychology that will offer a critical perspective on contemporary issues and topics relevant to health psychology and the public. Our intent is to contribute to a deeper understanding of health, inspire innovative research, and ultimately improve health at the population level. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)