Albania
Albanian psychologists barred from conducting gay ‘conversion therapy'
May, 2020
Albanian psychologists barred from conducting gay ‘conversion therapy’
May 2020
Source: Reuters https://www.facebook.com/urdhriipsikologutalbania/posts/3445574165472516
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Albania’s leading psychologists’ organisation has barred members from carrying out so-called “conversion therapy” which aims to make gay people straight, as countries around the world consider laws to ban the controversial practice. The Order of Psychologists said members would face disciplinary proceedings if they carried out the treatment, which is based on the belief that being gay or transgender is a mental illness that can be “cured”.
All registered psychologists in Albania must be members of the Order of Psychologists which has given licences to about 600 psychologists since it was set up by parliament in 2017. Only three countries - Brazil, Ecuador and Malta - have nationwide bans on “conversion therapy”, but earlier this month Germany outlawed the treatment for minors. The United States, Canada, Chile and Mexico are among nations seeking bans.
Xheni Karaj, executive director of the Alliance Against Discrimination of LGBT (Aleanca LGBT), an Albanian advocacy group, said the move was “very, very positive”. “We know psychologists work a lot ... in schools and we have had many cases of school psychologists (telling LGBT) kids that this is a disease and you should be turned back to ‘normal’,” Karaj told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The Order of Psychologists issued its ban after a request from Albanian LGBT+ advocacy group Pink Embassy on May 11.
“Our professionals appreciate that conversion therapy is an archaic, unethical practice that categorically contradicts fundamental human rights and freedoms,” president of the Order of Psychologists, Valbona Treska, said in a statement.
Albania’s government did not respond to requests for comment. Discrimination against LGBT+ people is illegal in Albania, but Aleanca LGBT documented almost 450 anti-LGBT+ hate crimes in 2019. The report found only 34 cases were reported to the police, due to mistrust and fears of being outed.
There were “a growing number of hate speech incidents in the media ... most targeting trans people,” in the Balkan country in 2019, according to ILGA-Europe, a regional advocacy group.
Austria
Psychological therapy must be refunded! Psychologists demand equal treatment - Petition of BÖP already signed by 30000 supporters
June, 2020
Source : BÖP
The Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP) fundamentally welcomes the initiative of the Board of Directors of the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) to expand the health insurance funded places for the treatment of mental illnesses. At the same time, the BÖP points out that this step anticipates the fundamental reform of mental health care in Austria announced by the government and does not include psychology.
The aim of the desired reform is the targeted and effective treatment of mentally ill people in Austria with sufficient treatment places at a high- quality level and without waiting. As stated by the government parties on several occasions, this can only be done by including all three PSY professions (clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists).
In the current system, many high-quality services provided by clinical psychologists, particularly psychological therapy (clinical psychological treatment), cannot be offset against the health insurance company. Those affected must currently bear 100% of the costs themselves.
“Clinical psychologists are currently discriminated by law. As a professional association of Austrian psychologists, we call for equal treatment of professional groups and a legal change” explains Prof. Dr.Beate Wimmer-Puchinger. "Psychological therapy must be accessible to everyone!"
The population is also behind this demand: A petition by the BÖP on this very topic only crossed the 30,000 supporters limit this week
Belgium
Expert group of psychologists - report on exit - strategy Corona
May, 2020
In Belgium, an expert group of psychologists has been created, providing advice on the exit - strategy for Corona - virus. The group provides advice to the national expert group that prepares the final scientific advice to Belgian policy makers.
This advice is concentrated around sustainable behaviour change and it is interesting because it’s very practical and provides clear and ready - to - use guidelines to policy makers.
Download the advice in English as PDF and find background information on the group on EFPA Psychologist’s Support hub about COVID-19 crisis under Resources from Belgium
Iceland
Psychological services included in the Health insurance system in Iceland
June, 2020
On the final day of the Icelandic parliamentary work, 30th of June 2020, the Parliament passed a law on changes in health insurance that will take effect on the 1st of January 2021. The Act was presented by all parties, had strong agreement in the Parliament and were unanimously adopted.
The aim of the bill is to ensure that psychology services will be covered by the Health Insurance Payment System and thus provided on the same grounds as other health services. This is an extremely important step in increasing public access, regardless of economy, to appropriate mental health services.
The government is investing in better mental health of the public, which will pay for the economy in the long run. This is the first step, but the laws have not been put in regulation and the funding have not been secured.
The Icelandic Psychological Association celebrates this lawmaking, but improved access to psychology services has been one of the association´s main campaigning for decades. We hope the Government see it as important and will fully fund it in next year general budget.
Tryggvi Guðjón Ingason
President of the Icelandic Psychological Association
Ireland
Psychological Society of Ireland is celebrating its 50th anniversary
May, 2020
_w1136_h616_1.jpg)
Lithuania
Clinical Psychology in Lithuania: Current Developments in Training and Legislation
March, 2020
Clinical Psychology in Lithuania: Current Developments in Training and Legislation
March 31,2020
Source : EACLIPT Journal
This paper presents an overview of the current status in training and legislation of clinical psychology in Lithuania. Clinical psychology training at the university level in Lithuania started soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and was influenced by the social context and historical-political situation in the country. Currently, legislation for clinical psychology in Lithuania is in progress, and several promising regulations for psychology in health care were introduced in the last decade. However, psychologists, including clinical psychologists, are not licensed in Lithuania. The lack of legislation for psychology is the main obstacle for the recognition and establishment of clinical psychology in the country. In health care, the title ‘clinical psychologist’ is not common; ‘medical psychologist’ is the title used instead to refer to both clinical psychologists and health psychologists. We conclude that while the development of clinical psychology in Lithuania is promising, there is still a long way to go to establish clinical psychology as an important profession in Lithuania.
Poland
Open letter of the Polish Psychologists' Association regarding the inputting of misinformation about the LGBT+ community
June, 2020
Poland: escalation of LGBT+ community issues
June, 2020
Important message from our Polish Member Association
Dear colleagues,
in connection with spreading disinformation in the society and escalating the problem of LGBT community in Poland, as the Polish Psychologists' Association we are taking action (attached version EN ) to clarify that LGBT+ community it is not an ideology and to stop any escalate aggression against any of the social group.
We would be grateful for any support from the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations, including the action on our social media
Thank you for all your support in advance.
Kind regards
Tomasz Bednarowicz
Vice-President
See open letter of the Polish Psychologists' Association (as .pdf)
Portugal
- 5th OPP Congress postponed. July, 2020
- Escola SaudávelMente: "Live healthfully this period of pandemic… and home study", June, 2020
- Psychologists from around the world united for action: "Fighting Domestic Violence". June, 2020
- "Pandemic Honor Roll - Diploma". June, 2020
- New OPP book: “O futuro de quase tudo” ("The future of almost everything”). July, 2020
- Podcast OPP: “O Frio é Psicológico”. July, 2020
Escola SaudávelMente: "Live healthfully this period of pandemic… and home study"
June 18, 2020
The current state of the pandemic has been a challenge not only for the most varied professionals, but also for ... children, young people and their families or caregivers. The role of the psychologist with intervention in the school context and the promotion of psychological literacy are undoubtedly even more crucial in this context. Therefore, OPP produced and launched a new campaign that has been running in the commercial breaks of the “Telescola” (“Teleschool”) and on social networks.
Psychologists from around the world united for action: "Fighting Domestic Violence"
June19, 2020
Domestic violence (physical, psychological, sexual) has increased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. What can psychologists do? This initiative is an international action, with the participation of the OPP and 53 other psychology associations from around the world, which aims to alert about the increase of of domestic violence during the state of pandemic and how psychologists can act in this context.
Click here to download the document as PDF (in Portuguese)
"Pandemic Honor Roll - Diploma"
June 26, 2020
An atypical and particularly challenging academic year is ending. The children and young people must be congratulated: they had maximum marks in resilience and adaptability; deserve first place on the Pandemic Honor Roll. All Parents, Caregivers, Educators and Teachers who, during this academic year, given the challenging and uncertain situation that we live in, did their best to educate children and young people, also deserve a medal of excellence. THANK YOU!
The idea of this book is not to list sensible or miraculous solutions, but rather to raise unanswered questions and outline ways of accompanying and, if possible, anticipate participation in this evolution and the role of technology, people, nature in the future of the Planet and, of course, the role of Psychologists, specialists in “behaviours”, in this evolution and in the possibility of survival of Life, with quality.
The authors are a group of renowned professionals, not all (but almost all ) psychologists.
Click to download the first pages of the book (in Portuguese)
Podcast OPP: “O Frio é Psicológico”
July 3, 2020
"Frio é Psicológico” (“Cold is Psychological”) is the newest podcast from OPP that pretends to inform and inspire Psychologists, illustrating the diverse career paths in Psychology through conversations with fellow Psychologists.
The first episode is now available!
Available to listen and/or subscribe on the main podcast platforms:
- Anchor: www.anchor.fm/ofrioepsicologico
- iTunes: https://apple.co/3g1VMTR
- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/383VgSJ
- Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3dJW14J
- Breaker: https://bit.ly/2BEYrEe
- Castbox: https://bit.ly/3dCYsG2
- Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/25dfrfdl
- RadioPublic: https://bit.ly/2YBfuQp
Spain
His majesty, the king of Spain meets with the COP president Francisco Santolaya. May, 2020
_w710_h326_1.png)
The President of the Consejo General de la Psicología de España presented to the King of Spains the performances carried out in the framework of COVID-19.
‘Ayer, 13 de mayo, el presidente del Consejo General de la Psicología, Francisco Santolaya Ochando, mantuvo una videoconferencia con Sus Majestades los Reyes para detallar las actuaciones realizadas por parte del COP en el marco de la actual emergencia sanitaria generada por el COVID-19.’
Entre las más de 30.000 intervenciones psicológicas realizadas hasta la fecha, el presidente del COP subrayó las acciones llevadas a cabo para mitigar el impacto psicológico derivado de la emergencia sanitaria y de la situación de confinamiento dirigidas a colectivos específicos: población general, personas afectadas por COVID-19 y sus familiares y profesionales que trabajan en primera línea de actuación.’
Turkey
2021 SAKIP SABANCI International Research awards: Post-corona world and turkey: social psychological and political impacts of the pandemics. July, 2020
In coping with Covid-19 pandemic, government policies in the world displayed considerable differences. While some governments implemented social distancing through emergency laws, others approached this as a matter of personal choice and ventured into persuading their citizens towards self-confinement, with mixed success. In the fight against the pandemic, the success of the government policies became increasingly dependent on the behavior of their citizens. Civic activism was curtailed along with the decline in the citizens’ ability to come together, organize and advocate. Nevertheless, new civil society actors and a novel type of civic activism emerged in attempts to provide essential services such as food and masks, stop the spread of incorrect and harmful information as well as protect the disadvantaged and marginalized groups.
What were the social psychological factors in understanding the impact of perceived threat of spreading Covid-19? Did the pandemic increase potentially maladaptive collective defensive behaviors, such as stigmatization, xenophobia, social isolation, fear of job loss, distrust toward health system and governments, as well as adaptive social behaviors, such as, social cohesion, creative collective actions, and altruism?
Ukraine
Ukrainian association elected new President.
Kiyv, May 2020
On the 28 of May the National Psychological Association of Ukraine had a scheduled elections. The Board of NPA voted for Mrs. Valeriia Palii, PhD, as the President of National Psychological Association of Ukraine for 2020-2022.
Before she was elected as the President she had been a Treasurer of the NPA. Besides the Ukrainian association she works for as a clinical psychologist, also she is interested in psychodiagnostics. Valeria received significant support from the colleagues for her initiatives, which she had managed to implement in our organization within last years. The Ukrainian association president is young and ambitious.
«The Board of National Psychological association gave a chance for a young blood. The Ukrainian psychological system needed the profound changes. Old ways to solve the problems in the field of psychology did not work. We need new solutions. There were many challenges: the absence of legislation and licensing, outdated ethic code, vague educational standards. Many Ukrainian specialists did not see the point to cooperate as part of non-governmental organization and this idea had appeared due to the previous unsuccess. For many years in different organizations they just paid the fees and didn’t receive anything. The National Psychological association of Ukraine was a young organization but former president launched many important initiatives. We became a member of EFPA and we appreciate our membership, we started a dramatic work in legislation area and revised the ethics code. During the last years we had been holding a few national events, such as European psychology semester, round table discussion with Ukrainian politicians, a conference «NPA open space». NPA `s response to COVID-19 was very effective and useful for frontline workers, psychologists, wide audience. More and more specialists realized the importance of professional community and joined NPA. Changes are always difficult and Ukrainian psychologists needed time to adjust to the new vision. It was a long way and I will continue this work and provide new initiatives. Some of my opponents told that I was too young, it is true, but I have an extremely supportive team and I am ready to fight against all the stereotypes: about psychology, professional communities, age and gender. I think it is a high time for this» — said Valeriia.
The new president plans are the continuation of the previous initiatives including legislative changes, development of new ethic standards, implementation of the EuroPsy, international cooperation, as well as the launch of an educational hub for psychologists, development of modern psychological science, organization of an annual psychological congress, development of the association: increase in membership and participation in various local initiatives.
Valeriia will work with the First President professor Leonid Burlachuk, who got an honorary title after the elections, Vice-President PsyD Vitaly Klymchuk, the Secretary Oleg Burlachuk and a new Treasurer Elena Lievina . The National Psychological association was established in 2017. NPA has an umbrella structure and includes 16 local psychological organizations and 8 divisions.
_w1218_h1360_1.jpg)
