Austria
38.716 signatures for better care for people with mental illnesses - BILD. December, 2021
38,716 signatures for better care for people with mental illnesses - BILD
December 11, 2021
- Sufficient treatment places for mentally ill people
- Short-term: Psychological therapy as a health insurance benefit
- Long-term: "Master plan: Mentally healthy Austria" for all PSY professions
Belgium
Initiatives of Belgian psychologists in response to the Covid19 pandemic. February 2022
Belgian researchers take part in international study on the impact of the pandemic on bereavement. February 2022.
Initiatives of Belgian psychologists in response to the covid19 pandemic
(Check the EFPA COVID Hub for more COVID related news from Belgium)
February , 2022
Initiatives of Belgian psychologists in response to the covid19 pandemic
Since the start of the pandemic, Belgian psychologists have been very active in research and policy advice on different psychological issues raised by the pandemic. Several of these initiatives might be relevant also in an international context. We highlight here three important initiatives.
This special collection presents psychological studies that shed light on preventive behaviors in response COVID19, the (non)adoption of behavior to protect ourselves and others from getting infected, and the impact of COVID19 on integration in our daily lives. Apart from the immediate threat to public health, the pandemic has also fueled economic and social stressors, further exacerbated by confinement measures to restrain the spread of the virus. The studies included in this special collection address also long-term psychological effects of the pandemic on individuals, communities, and societies as a whole. So far, thirteen papers have been published. Papers are still being added.
Expert Group on Psychology & Corona
The expert group consists of researchers in motivation, social, clinical and health psychology, as well as members of professional associations of psychologists in Belgium. It was a grassroots initiative of colleagues who felt that the expertise of behavioral scientists and professional psychology was insufficiently represented in different expert panels and policy committees. The activities of the group started early May 2020 after several psychologists had taken individual initiatives to contribute to the debate in media and at the level of policy making. This initiative is supported by the Belgian Federation of Psychologists (BFP-FBP).
The group has the following aims:
- Put forward a conceptual framework on corona-related behavior as a basis for strategic advice
- Collect and disseminate information about ongoing psychological research related to COVID19
- Write and distribute regular short reports with practical and concrete do’s/don’ts
- Develop visibility and building up a direct relationship with media/journalists and committees of other experts and policy makers
- Become the contact point for questions by media and policy makers on corona-related behavior
This is a scientific research project bridging theory and practice based on interdisciplinary and interuniversity cooperation (UGent, UCLouvain, KULeuven, ULB). The group is composed of four professors and six researchers working in the domains of clinical, health, motivational, and social psychology.
Three mains topics are addressed by the motivation barometer:
1) Motivation and communication
How does the motivation to follow the measures and the willingness to be vaccinated evolve throughout the crisis?
2) General mental well-being
How is the mental health of the population evolving?
3) Specific themes and target groups
What are the challenges for specific target groups (e.g. elderly, students, parents, etc.) and what are the psychological advantages and disadvantages of specific themes (e.g. boredom)?
The group working on the Motivation barometer published on a regular basis scientific reports (so far 40), including practical recommendations for the population and the political authorities. We also published scientific papers and toolkits.
Belgian researchers take part in international study on the impact of the pandemic on bereavement.
Feb 2022
Some 16% of Belgians have lost a loved one since the Coronavirus pandemic broke out in March 2020, according to La Libre Belgique newspaper, which notes in its Saturday edition that the pandemic and related health measures have had an impact on bereavement practices.
Identifying this impact, the needs of the bereaved during the new situation caused by the pandemic, and helping friends and relatives of the bereaved to adapt their social support are the focus of a new study involving researchers from the Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and institutions in a number of other countries.
“We are conducting this study to try to have a better understanding of the situation, and our hypothesis is that people have adapted and found alternatives, that new rules have emerged,” UCLouvain Professor Emmanuelle Zech, a specialist in bereavement practices, told La Libre Belgique.
“It’s an international study, done in collaboration with universities in France, Canada, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal,” she said. “Each will come with its specificities, but the common objective is to understand how the context of COVID has influenced rites and how people have experienced their bereavement after that.”
Source The Brussels Times
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Portugal
Assessment of the psychological skills of surveillance personnel. January 1, 2022
Healthy Workplaces Awards 2022. January 17, 2022
Debate with political parties on the eve of legislative elections in Portugal. January 20, 2022.
Guidelines for Practice Supervision. January 31, 2022
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The law providing for the assessment of the psychological skills of surveillance personnel was implemented in Portugal. It can be carried out by an entity recognized by the Portuguese Psychologists Association, which has already opened the registration process to all psychologists.
The list is published on the Order's website
It is an important step in affirming psychology in the maintenance of peace and public security. It’s one more activity reserved by law only to psychologists.
Healthy Workplaces Awards 2022
January 17, 2022
Applications are open between the 17th of January and the 18th of February. The Portuguese Psychology Association intends to recognize Portuguese organizations with management practices that promote safety, well-being and health in the workplace and encourage other companies to implement them. These Awards are part of the partnership with the Authority for Working Conditions and European Agency for Safety & Health at Work.
Debate with political parties on the eve of legislative elections in Portugal
January 20, 2022
Representatives of eight political parties with parliamentary seats joined the Portuguese Psychologists Association in a debate on the contributions of Psychology and Psychologists to the Future. Moderated by journalist Maria Flor Pedroso, this debate discussed the proposals presented by the Portuguese Psychologists Association for the Legislative Elections 2022.
Guidelines for practice Supervision
January 31, 2022
The Portuguese Psychologists Association published Guidelines for Supervision. The document results from the systematization of recommendations and good practices, transversal to different theoretical models, contexts and professional experiences of psychologists, in a meta-theoretical approach that aggregates knowledge, skills and attitudes that make up the competences of Supervision. This is not intended to be a regulatory instrument, but a basis for guidance in solving ethical and professional dilemmas within the scope of Supervision.
Netherlands
Henk Geertsema getting Royal recognition in the Netherlands. December, 2021.
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Splendid and very much deserved recognition for the work Henk Geertsema has done (and still does) for the professional education and professional ethics of psychologists.
We, the Netherlands Institute of Psychologists (NIP), are very grateful to him for this and we were moved to attend the presentation of this royal award today. Henk, we are extremely proud of you!
Both in the Netherlands, and within EFPA (European Federation of Psychologists' Associations) where you have been participating in the Board of Ethics on behalf of NIP for quite some time, you are of great importance to the profession. It is also a great pleasure to work with you and to be able to translate your, often wise, words into things that benefit your fellow professionals!
The royal decoration was presented to Henk by Gilbert Isabella , mayor of Houten, during the joint symposium of the PgD Psychological Expertise for Elderly Care, CCE and the Section Elderly Psychology NIP.
Spain
The COP participates in the Conference "The role of Psychology in crisis situations, catastrophes and emergencies", with the intervention of Javier Torres, representative of the Council's emergency area. February, 2022
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The COP participates in the Conference "The role of Psychology in crisis situations, Catastrophes and emergencies", with the intervention of Javier Torres, representative of the Council's emergency area
February 2, 2022
Wednesday, February 2, the General Council of Psychology participated, hand in hand with the representative of the emergency area of the collegiate organization, Javier Torres Ailhaud , in a conference on "The role of Psychology in crisis situations, Catastrophes and emergencies”, held by the European University.
This value-added day included the participation and experience of leading figures in the field of Emergency Psychology , as well as different institutions, such as the Military Emergency Unit, SAMUR, the Ministry of Health, Hospitals such as La Paz or Niño Jesús, educational institutions such as the Complutense University of Madrid, the Spanish Society of Psychology Applied to Disasters, Urgencies and Emergencies, the Spanish Society for the Development and Study of Psychology, the International Project HU-CI, the Official College of Psychology of Madrid, the General Council of Psychology of Spain, ALBIA Funeral Services or the International Group on Terrorism and Peacebuilding.
Throughout the event, the different professionals addressed the origins, current situation and future of this discipline . Likewise, reports of the work of the emergency psychologist in the in-hospital setting (oncology, intensive care, transplants) and out-of-hospital settings (consular emergencies, terrorist attacks, SAMUR) were provided, and specific experiences of current and past emergencies (11M, COVID-19 , La Palma volcano) and an ongoing suicide crisis intervention with a clinical case.
Croatia
15th Week of Psychology in Croatia sponsored by the Croatian President Zoran Milanović. February, 2022.
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15th Week of Psychology in Croatia sponsored by the Croatian President Zoran Milanović
February 14, 2022
Psychology Week is an event organized by the Croatian Psychological Association (CPA) in cooperation with the county societies of psychologists. It is held in places and cities throughout Croatia, where psychologists live and work. All these events are free.
The Psychology Week was first organized in 2008 as part of the celebration of 55th anniversary of the Croatian Psychological Association. It is held in the week in which Croatian Psychological Society was established, back in 1953 (February, 14).
Objectives of the event:
- show the full breadth of the involvement of psychological theory and practice in the life of the individual, the community and business world
- prevent and protect the mental health
- popularize the work and profession of psychologists in Croatia.
Holders of all activities are members of professional sections and county associations, psychologists’ members of the Croatian Psychological Society, members of the academic community - study of psychology, scientific units and institutions, students of psychology and related professions (social workers, pedagogues, speech therapists, doctors).
The format used are: lectures, round tables, workshops, exhibitions and presentations of books, posters, demonstrations of the work of psychologists in practice, forums on topics that are current in the community, conducting and presenting research results, appearances on radio, television, in writing or electronic media or some completely new activities that will arouse interest in the community and contribute to improving the quality of life of the individual and the community.
This year we successfully held a 15th Psychology Week in more than 80 Croatian cities, more than 900 colleagues participated in a large content of events and media appearances. Under the given epidemiological situation most events were held online.
Josip Lopižić
President of the Croatian Psychological Association
Germany
The German Association of Psychologists (BDP) statement on the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers. December, 2021
International non-governmental organizations launched Red Hand Day in 2002 to draw attention to the fate of child soldiers. On this day, prints of red hands are collected in more than 50 countries in order to hand them over to members of the respective parliaments. In Germany, too, young people have given thousands of handprints to members of the Bundestag in recent years - also as a sign of their protest against arms exports in crisis regions.
For the BDP, the issue of children's rights is very important. For years, experts from the association have been active in nationwide working groups, formulate statements and political demands and act in an advisory capacity on committees. Deployment as a soldier is an issue that poses a serious threat to the well-being of children and therefore deserves special attention.
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Switzerland
What LinkedIn profiles say about personality, February, 2022
What LinkedIn profiles say about personality
February 1, 2022
Researchers at the École hôtelière de Lausanne believe that LinkedIn pages give a pretty good idea of personality.
With over 690 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is the largest online network for professionals. Many companies publish their vacancies on this career platform. HR employees also inquire about applicants on LinkedIn. But how reliable is this information?
Researchers at the École hôtelière de Lausanne believe that LinkedIn pages give a pretty good idea of personality. They looked at the profiles of 607 volunteer test subjects and derived 33 indicators from them. At the same time, the participants filled out a questionnaire to assess their personality traits.
Cross-analysis of the data shows that the profiles are indeed reliable indicators of certain personality traits of the big Five model included. The best predictors are conscientiousness and extraversion. For example, people who keep their profile up to date, detail their work history, or list all of their organizational skills tend to be more conscientious. Other indicators such as spelling, on the other hand, have proven to be less relevant: Contrary to popular belief, spelling mistakes do not indicate a less conscientious character. Further research should now show whether the indicators also provide relevant information on personality traits that are not based on self-assessment and whether they could have predictive value for future performance.
Fernandez, S., Stöcklin, M., Terrier, L., & Kim, S. (2021). Using available signals on LinkedIn for personality assessment. Journal of research in personality, 93, 1–14. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104122
Published on FSP website : https://www.psychologie.ch/was-linkedin-profile-ueber-die-persoenlichkeit-aussagen
United Kingdom
Psychologist harnesses the power of superheroes to support the mental health of children and young people. February, 2022.
Survey shows parents’ mental health has worsened over the last two years. January, 2022.
‘We should be an inclusive home’. January, 2022.
Chartered BPS member Dr Sarita Robinson has written a wellbeing guide to help older children and young people to successfully manage their mental health.
The free online resource uses superheroes to illustrate the workings of science and psychological health in a way that young people can relate to. It addresses issues such as the causes of stress and anxiety and ways to manage it, how to sleep better to improve mental health and ways to cope during difficult times.
The availability of the guide coincides with Children’s Mental Health Week (7-13 February), which this year focuses on growing emotionally and helping each other to grow.
Survey shows parents’ mental health has worsened over the last two years
January 27, 2022
New figures published today by youth mental health charity stem4 – founded by chartered BPS member Dr Nihara Krause – reveals that the pandemic has left 86 per cent of parents feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope.
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