Welcome to the November edition of EFPA’s News Magazine

Welcome to the EFPA News Magazine, the magazine that was established for the exchange of all relevant news and information among our member associations.

In this November edition, you will find a Special about the ECP 2019 Moscow, featuring the EFPA Presidential Address, photo impressions of the conference and gala dinner, and interviews with and keynotes of the EFPA Award winners.

Go directly to the Special ECP 2019 Moscow  

As always, you will find the updated agenda of meetings, conferences and other upcoming events, as well as news from the EFPA Board of Human Rights & Psychology and EuroPsy. Enjoy the November edition of the EFPA News Magazine!

The editorial board. 
 news@efpa.eu 

 It's incredible, but our congress in Moscow has already been held more than three months ago. And with it the General Assembly and the elections. The Executive Council had no time to breathe! Because many tasks had to be continued. And yet, we want to look at new goals and work differently than before. 

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans" John Lennon said. The activities have certainly helped us to grow into the work: All members of the Executive Council have taken part in conferences and meetings at European level at short notice, drafted statements, made contacts and answered questions from groups and member associations.
I would like to thank everyone: the members of the Executive Council for their commitment, the Head Office team for their reliable support, the colleagues of the different groups of EFPA and of our Member Associations for all their encouragement and suggestions. We have accepted and mastered the challenges of EFPA’s everyday life. 

But everyday life is a sweet poison. In order not to get stuck in the old water, we have used the first meeting of the Executive Council in particular to redefine the work within our association, to set goals more clearly, to focus on them and to adjust them to the needs of the member associations and the need for strong political influence in Europe.

In short: We focus on less but clear goals and measures. We continuously check the process of goal achievement. We promote close cooperation between all groups and Member Associations. All in all, we set ourselves more realistic goals and do things differently. At the forthcoming meeting of the Presidents’ Council in Kyiv we will pick up the commitment for more agility and efficiency. In any case, we believe that the compass is right and that the goals and measures meet the needs of our Member Associations and the needs of a strong psychology for Europe. 

Christoph Steinebach, EFPA president

November 1, 2019.

Memorandum of Understanding between EFPA and
the American Psychological Association (APA)

Moscow July 6, 2019. 

In the margins of the GA in Moscow, EFPA and the American Psychological Association (APA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration between both organisations.

The act has been signed during the GA Cocktail held at the Radisson Hotel.

(Click on image to view the complete album)

(Click on image to view the complete album)

Thank you and farewell to former EFPA Executive council 

Brussels, October 14, 2019.

In our Head Office in Brussels the former Executive Council members met with the new EC and officially handed over the liaison tasks and files that need to be followed up. Past EFPA president Telmo Mourinho Baptista received a ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ as did former Secretary General Robertas Povilaitis and EC members Tor Levin Hofgaard and Bruna Zani.

At the reception after the meeting, EFPA president Christoph Steinebach thanked Telmo, Robertas, Tor and Bruna for their hard work and commitment to EFPA.

November 20, 2019

World Children's Day: Psychologists take action

Psychologists must use their influence to drive change for the most marginalized and deprived children. Advocacy of children rights should be initiated by psychologists at all levels, taking a human-rights based approach to their practice and advocacy in legislation and policy making.

EFPA appeals to all psychologists to celebrate young people’s commitment to protecting their rights and their future on World Children’s Day and to ensure that no child is left behind.

Read full press release on our website  

November 10, 2019

World Science Day for Peace and Development

The Importance of Psychological Science to Support Peace and Development

World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. The European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA) endorses this statement.

Read full press release on our website  

October 10, 2019

World Mental Health Day 2019:

Suicide is largely preventable

Psychological care and knowledge can save lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) chose suicide as the theme for the World Mental Health Day 2019. This choice reflects the importance of suicide and the need to intervene preemptively. Suicide kills close to 800 000 people every year – which is more than 2 000 per day.

However, these large numbers of deaths by suicide are not inevitable. Suicide varies significantly across country, and period, ranging from less than 5 to more than 15 suicides per 100.000. This variation suggests that there are several psychological and social interventions that can be implemented.

As Rory O’Connor, Professor of Health Psychology and researcher at the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, University of Glasgow, said:

“Although the global suicide rates have decreased in recent years, the reality is that these decreases have not been universal and in many countries including in the UK, the USA and Australia deaths by suicide are on the rise. Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility, and it is only through working together that we will effectively address this public health crisis.”

Read full press release on our website  

European Federation of Psychologists Associations 
World Suicide Prevention Day 2019 - Press release

Members of the SC on Community Psychology have participated to a "Photovoice" workshop organized in Naples by  the European Community Psychology Association (ECPA).

October 3, 2019 - Naples, Italy

Some members of the EFPA SC on Community Psychology have participated in a "Photovoice" workshop for social action and social justice organised by the European Community Psychology Association (ECPA) in Naples.

Photovoice is a method for giving the unprivileged people a voice, and empowering them to take action against oppressive forces. 

The workshop was chaired by Susana Helm. Susana Helm, PhD is a Community & Culture Psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai`i  Mānoa, in Honolulu, Hawaï, USA.

Dr. Helm is an American of Italian descent – her grandmother moved to the US from Chiavenna early in the 20th century. PhotoVoice and photography for social action has been a useful tool in her community and academic work since the 1990s. 

Susana Helm's workshop was attended by students and professionals from Italy and abroad. The participants were introduced to Photovoice, a research method for giving the unprivileged people a voice, and empowering them to take action against oppressive forces. 

Read more about the workshop here  

Participants of the ECPA workshop "Photovoice".

Visit of the  EFPA Board of Educational Affairs to the European Federation of Psychology Students' Associations (EFPSA) 13th European Summer School

July, 2019 - Lithotopos, Greece

Nicola Falzon, EFPSA Representative in the EFPA Board of Educational Affairs, was invited to and attended the 13th European Summer School, an annual event organised by EFPSA.

This year the event was held in Lithotopos, Greece, between the 8th and 15th July 2019. During this event, junior researchers join together in 6 groups under the leadership of a supervisor. Attendees spent the week developing and launching 6 Research Studies across Europe, which will continue to develop under EFPSA's Junior Researcher Programme following the European Summer School.

Ms. Falzon gave a presentation about the Board of Educational Affairs and their role in EFPA and she explained their new role as the Advisory Board for the Junior Researcher Programme. 

Standing Committee Clinical NeuroPsychology meeting  - October 2019, Brussels

From left to right: Amélie Ponchel, Sara Mondini, Erik Hessen, Bengt Persson, Varako Nataliya,
Fernando Barbosa, Laura Hokkanen, Sandra Lettner, Tomas Nikolai

Front row: Marios Constantinou, Erich Kasten, Mary Helen Kosmidis.

EFPA Board of Human Rights & Psychology: 
Newsletter Human Rights & Psychology 

The September Newsletter of the EFPA Board Human Rights and Psychology contains the following headings: next to news from the European Human Rights institutions, special attention will be given to climate change and human rights, children’s rights and forced migration. In the collected articles, the NY Times 1619 Project is highlighted, describing the history of slavery in the United States. And: Do not forget to look at the upcoming conferences.