Returning to the workplace: safety conditions for practicing psychologists

During the recovery phase following Covid-19, there will be significant challenges facing psychologists when returning to the workplace. Psychologists aim to make people they work with feel secure and this can only be done when they themselves are feeling safe and are physically protected from immediate infection danger. Government policy varies between nations and this guidance sets out the need for balanced decision-making about ways of working, and the ongoing safety considerations for psychologists and their clients.

Read article:

• in English on BPS website  
• in Spanish on Infocop website 

New guidance for psychological professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic

27 March 2020

In the UK some principles have been developed for psychological services and have been adapted here to serve as general guiding suggestions.

Read the suggestion here 

Webinar : COVID-19 and mental health: taking forward the lessons learned

The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on mental health. The first signs of the mental health impact of the pandemic became apparent already after a few months. In trying to address the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, over a period of more than two years, we have learned important lessons. It is crucial now to investigate whether and how the different lessons have been taken forward (i.e., the issues have successfully been tackled) and if not- what the hurdles have been and what is needed to make progress. This will enable us to build a Europe which is more resilient and better prepared to face future crisis.

The webinar took place on the EU Health Policy Platform, in the framework of the "COVID-19 and Mental Health Support" Stakeholders Network. This network space was set up by DG SANTE in May 2020, in order to support the efforts on the ground of social and health stakeholders, encourage them to discuss and share information on COVID-19-related mental health issues, and to develop a set of guidance documents that can help address the mental health aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The presentation are now available and the recording through Youtube (Click here to view)  

The psychological needs of healthcare staff as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic

"This is a guide for leaders and managers of healthcare services who will need to consider the wellbeing needs of all healthcare staff (clinical and non-clinical) as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. It offers practical recommendations for how to respond at individual, management and organisational level involving the appropriate utilisation of expertise within their practitioner psychologist and mental health professionals and anticipates the psychological reactions over time, and what people may need to recovery psychologically from this."

View guide here 

Recommendations for first responders

Self-protection for First  Responders and Health Professionals 

EMDR Europe 

When a serious critical event -like the Coronavirus pandemic- affects the whole world, the emotional impact on individuals, first responders, medical staff and communities is profound. When the first responders are also victims of the same incident, their emotional reactions can be so intense that they can interfere with their functioning during and after the crisis.

Download the EMDR Europe recommandations here as  PDF 

Recommendations on psychological support for healthcare managers providing medical care to COVID-19 patients

Recommendations on prevention of psychological distress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic