Looking at the happy side (or not) of organizations
Psychology and climate crisis
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| Signing the Lisbon Resolution |
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| F. Rodrigues, M. R. de Sousa, A. Sales e A. Evans |
The report of this Summit will be delivered to United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, and several other international institutions around the world.
We now have the responsibility to work together, with our behaviours and our knowledge, doing everything we can to advocate for the use of psychology and human behaviour scientific knowledge on this collective effort.
Talking with Telmo Mourinho Baptista, EFPA President
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| Telmo Mourinho Baptista, EFPA President |
Tomorrow begins the European Congress of Psychology in Moscow, at the same time as Telmo Mourinho Baptista ends his first four-year term as president of the EFPA Executive Council.
What do you think will be the main challenge to psychologists in the near future?
I think the main challenge for psychologist in the near future is to follow the developments that artificial intelligence (AI) is introducing in all kinds of services, including psychology. We are at an important point where we still have the time to participate in the debates that occur around the development of AI and the consequences for the citizens. There are many issues that need to be discussed, like ethical choices, privacy and psychological consequences of a world that is dominated by Ai, instead of a world that has AI at the service of humankind. This is not farfetched, this future is already here, and we don’t seem to notice it in all the different applications that surround us, like personal assistants (ex: Siri, Alexa) or intelligent homes. I think the participation of psychologists is crucial at the different stages of development, and Europeans have started an important exemple of concern for the development of responsible AI. We must participate in this discussion
Can you talk a little bit about some of the big issues that you have been advocating being president of the European Federation of Psychologists Association (EFPA)?
I have been advocating in general for a more psychologically informed process of decision. It is strange that with our solid knowledge about human behaviour we do not have a strong voice in policy making. There are already good examples, like the behavioural units that some governments created, but there is ample possibility for the different policies to benefit from psychological knowledge.
I also have been advocating for the development of the Europsy, in order to have more Europeans as Europsy holders. Europsy is a great achievement, and we need to develop it, and discuss further developments, like specialities, and the competencies that are involved at the different levels. Working with the Universities is a priority, so that they can prepare their students to become Europsy holders.
Another aspect that I have been advocating is for the diversification of services to deal with mental health problems. We need to consider other forms of delivery of services, not just the one on one encounter. Group, organization and community interventions should be more applied. We need also to consider the impact of the digital world as a way of helping to deliver services. This implies new roles for psychologists, and collaboration with other professions in a more ample way.
What’s the role of psychology for peace worldwide and what do you think that must be improved for that purpose?
Psychology can be of great help in peace processes. Improving communication between opposing parts, understanding the needs of the people involved, negotiating and mediating conflicts, following up on the achievements to allow for permanent change, are the type of activities that psychologists are experts. There is strong science that supports psychological interventions in peace processes, We can assist in the reparation processes, to bring true peace to the hearts of people, allowing them to have a better life.I have seen testimonies of these processes and I wonder why psychologists are not used more in the peace processes. I guess the general public, and even decision makers, don’t know enough go our training and how we can be of help.
For universal health coverage
It follows that in order to comply with the definition of health and with universal health coverage, despite all (and that is a lot!) of what we have already achieved, much still remains to be done. It is only in recent years that the importance of prevention and of behavioral causes of many diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, anxiety or obesity, has gained increasing attention from the population and policy makers. It is only recently that the gaps in access to services provided by psychologists, whether in relation to physical, mental and social well-being and related living habits, or in the intervention of mental disorders have gained more expression and visibility, although much needs to be done. Without creating the conditions for citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, to have access to this type of health care and prevention, either at the level of primary health care or community projects, or at organizations preventing and intervening in psychosocial risks or in schools helping to promote adjustment, school success and protective socio-emotional skills for development and a healthy life we can’t sustainably pursue a universal physical, mental and social health.
We are living a decisive moment when it comes to health. Citizens are more than ever the primary decision-makers and decision-makers who will ensure more and better health for future.
Adapted from an article published on https://observador.pt/opiniao/para-uma-cobertura-universal-da-saude/
The future of Europe
The future of Europe. What happens in European Institutions concerns all of us. Besides elections where participation from EU citizens it’s crucial, we need to engage in this discussion about the future of European Union. Making Europe closer it’s our responsibility too.
Psychology contributions to Europe sustainability
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| Psychology Day 2019, European Institutions |
We are Europeans and citizens living on planet earth, lucky for having a legacy called peace in our land and the responsibility to pass it to the next Generations. If we try to solve people psychological needs and major societal challenges just in our country, we can’t solve it, not even in our country. That’s why we need to share, to meet and discuss here at the European Level.
Psychology insights can contribute to address society complex problems.
Laws, procedures and politics have everything to do with human behaviour, that’s why we need psychological science to design better public policy and to mobilize citizens to comply and help to promote behavioral and perceptions changes, in order to achieve a more sustainable environment, more social cohesion and well-being in Europe and World.
We need psychology to know the behavioural causes of social phenomena and to prepare people to cope with consequences of such behaviours or some scenarios.
Psychology is a behavioural science, dealing with the human being across all the life span in every society context, developing since the 19th century and giving birth to 2 Economy and 1 Medicine (for two psychologists in a 3 person team) Nobel prize winners in the last 20 years, with 3 hundreds thousands professionals in Europe and evidence based data critical to understand who we are, how we behave, how we motivate, how we make decisions, learn, think, lead or express our emotions. We have to deliver our knowledge and skills to society and decision makers have to listen and use our contributions to better building and implementing policies and to be effective on their roles in the benefit of all of us.
It's with this major purpose and to offer our contributions that Portuguese Psychologists Association’s with other national Psychology Associations promote this event. For citizens. For Europe.
Thank you all for being here, particularly to Sofia Ribeiro and Paulo Nascimento Cabral for the contributions for this day and I hope that this first Psychology Day here, gives the floor for a psychology in all days at European Institutions.
Francisco Miranda Rodrigues, Opening Speech
European Institutions Psychology Day
Brussels, 30.01.2019
For peace
The European Union is an ideal of peace. I think we
have forgotten too many times about this.
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| Burkineau, Poland |
The
European Union is an ideal of peace. I think we've forgotten too many times
about this. Europe has lived a historic period of peace since 1945, with some
regional exceptions. When we complain about the European directives, the limits
to deficit and indebtedness, the mobility or the rules of competition and the
market, we may be right or wrong, but we must not forget the fortune that is
peace.
Without
peace we question the civilizational developments achieved, the economic
development, the health, the education, the culture, etc. This, in addition to
the suffering costs for the populations, with greater focus, for the
poorest and most vulnerable.
Peacekeeping
requires dialogue and sharing. Negotiation and respect for the other and for
the differences. And we are all responsible! We are responsible when we let
them decide for us, when we do not participate continuously in the social and
political life of our communities, when we do not inform ourselves about the
reasoning of the decisions that involve or affect us, when we only look at our
individual and immediate interest without considering the collective and what
is sustainable over time.
That
is why when I look at recent "developments" in several countries,
with very little europeism on the left and on the right, based on the
exploitation of fears and / or dissatisfactions, I am not afraid for prosperity
or for having to share with those who have nothing and are looking for a safer
world to live in (far from wars and conflicts), or I am not afraid for the
standardization of some rules ... I fear for freedom and for peace.
European
construction it's a welfare, present in our lives. So present that we forget him
as we forget the air we breathe, even when we lack it. However, the European Union
is a human construction, imperfect, and needs to be improved. More participated
and genuinely more inclusive and promoter of the rights and duties of its
member states and its citizens. But that depends on whom? It depends on us all.
With
different responsibilities, depending on the roles we play. But it concerns all
of us. And we have no excuses to say, as a solution, when we do not like
something that we see around us and that affects us: stop all this (European
Union) because it does not serve us.
We
Psychologists, as well as citizens, as professionals, try to contribute to the
European construction effort. One of the ways is through EFPA (European Federation of Psychologists Associations), representing more than 300,000
psychologists in the European space (36 countries), for 2 years presided over
by a Portuguese, Telmo Mourinho Baptista.
We
create partnerships, try to gather synergies, learn from each other's
experiences, promoting good professional practices at European level for all
consumers of psychology services in this region of the world. EFPA has created
EUROPSY, a diploma that recognizes professionals' competences to facilitate
mobility in the European space, and that the OPP will soon make available to
Portuguese psychologists.
It is
a small contribution to networking, to dialogue and the consolidation of
relationships between people, professionals and different countries, of a
common geographic space with common interests. It is also a very small
contribution, for a greater good, peace.
Published in portuguese language in the Sábado online magazine 28/04/2017.
Talking with Nicola Gale from British Psychological Society...
What do you think will be the main challenge
to psychologists in the near future?
As psychologists we need to show how we can make a real difference
to the societies in which we live and work, in our own countries, regions (for
us Europe) and internationally. We need
to demonstrate what the breadth and richness of our discipline can contribute
to solving some of the intractable problems that societies face. These range from sustainability and climate
change, through to the impacts of inequality, exclusion, and poverty.
The European Federation of Psychologists’
Associations (EFPA) uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as
a strategic framework, especially those related to poverty and hunger/
nutrition, education, gender equality, and SDG3 on health and wellbeing for
people of all ages, to highlight the contribution that Psychology can make to
achieving these strategic goals. The challenge for us, as a global community of
professionals, is how we can forge strategic alliances and partnerships that help
us to demonstrate the role and value of Psychology.
Now more than ever, we therefore need to be talking to policy
makers about what psychology offers, about prevention and early intervention,
and cost effectiveness, to the benefit of the citizens. We need to be
talking with our partners about how we can do this together and use our
collective strength through EFPA and through the International Union for
Psychological Science (IUPsyS) to reach the European and global bodies
including EU and UN, presenting our evidence and showing them how psychology
can help.
Another challenge for Psychologists comes from within. Silo working in the sub disciplines of our
profession can be deeply ingrained and often a consequence of training, but we
need to reach out across the discipline. We have the opportunity to present a single,
unified voice of psychology and, perhaps more importantly, the issues we
address are complex and involve key stakeholders from a broad range of
disciplines. We need to forge partnerships and dialogue not just
within but also outside the profession.
Can you talk a little bit about some of the
big issues that you have been advocating in your country?
Making a real difference is at the
heart of the British Psychological Society's (BPS) objectives as set out in our
impact statement:
"People are equipped with the
everyday psychological skills and knowledge to navigate a complex world,
knowing themselves and others better. Everyone can access evidence-based
psychology to enhance their lives, communities and wider society."
To achieve this, BPS has significantly
developed our policy influencing capability across the UK and in the devolved
nations (Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales). We use external professional
policy consultants to add expertise, leverage contacts and relationships, and
provide capacity for our work. Over the
next few months we will be investing significantly in the capacity of our
in-house policy team too, to drive our influencing agenda further
forward.
We have set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Psychology
(APPG) at the UK Westminster Parliament, the purpose of which is to raise
awareness amongst parliamentarians and policymakers of the importance and
relevance of psychology, with the goal of maximising the impact of psychology
on public policy. The APPG has so far
considered topics including work, children and young people, criminal justice,
and internet trolling. Coming up are
obesity, and autism.
We also have a policy presence each
year at the main political party conferences (the Conservative and Labour
parties). We go to them in order to progress our policy influencing,
build relationships with policy makers and other stakeholders, and ensure
visibility for the Society. The set up
facilitates meetings with members of parliament and their staff. There are ‘fringe events’ too which involve
for example politicians, professional organisations, journalists, think tanks,
and leaders from public and third sector organisations which address key
challenges. They are good opportunities
to make and renew connections with others to contribute to making a
difference.
One of the challenges Psychologists
can face is the apparent fragmentation of our message to policymakers, talking
about such a wide range of topics (to cite just a few: work, children and young people, education,
mental health, physical health such as obesity, criminal justice, environment …
) that it is not clear what we stand for.
A single-issue body does not have that problem. Consequently, another important development for
BPS has been the development of the Core Policy Framework, which sets out cross
cutting themes for our policy asks across practice, research, education and
training and public policy, such as prevention and early intervention; that
policy should be informed by the psychological evidence base; that human
wellbeing should be enhanced. One of our main policy priorities is
prevention, with the objective being ‘Governments should commit to prevention
and this should be reflected in legislation, policy priorities, budget
allocations and departmental targets’. Prevention is particularly relevant when
seeking to influence the longer-term policy making of the kind that gets
discussed at the party conferences.
By repeating and re-emphasising the
same core policy objectives across all areas of Psychology, we aim to gain
traction and build our reputation with policy makers. It is evident (although it is difficult especially
in times of austerity and crisis in public services to get governments to fund
prevention and early intervention, and difficult too to get the public to rate prevention
as a priority) that these cross-cutting messages are getting some
traction.
In relation to specific campaigns, BPS
policy team has driven a long-running campaign in relation to end-to-end reform
of the UK Employment Support assessment system for benefits. Other key
priority areas include Psychology at Work (focused on the psychological impact
of insecure and unstable employment and enabling strength-based employment for
those with neurodiverse conditions), children and young people’s mental health,
Dementia, Pre-tertiary Education, and the UK Research Excellence Framework
which drives much of research and HE funding and academic career progression in
the UK.
What’s the role of psychology for peace
worldwide and what do you think that must be improved for that purpose?
Recent political events and shifting
social trends have demonstrated the need for what psychology can offer. Sustaining increasingly-stretched public
services is a major challenge. Services
continue to deal with increasing demand as a result of persistent health
challenges including mental health, dementia, and obesity; and face the
consequent service design and delivery issues, including workforce, funding and
investment.
Wider psychological concerns need a
wise and reflective response. Levels of
social trust are low, inequality is rising, societies seem divided, and in the
current context for the UK and Europe we face the huge political upheavals of
Brexit. This is compounded in the UK by
the current domestic political uncertainties both for the UK as a whole and, in
different ways, the Devolved Nations.
As the examples of our policy influencing work above illustrate,
one of the themes that underlies much of our endeavour is social justice and
inclusion. Social justice is an area
many psychologists are passionate about so the emphasis perhaps is not
surprising.
We cannot however achieve our aims
alone. Psychology is a global
discipline, and advances have been possible due to the fostering of strong
multidisciplinary and multinational research networks, grants, and collaboration
between and movement of people with expertise.
In the UK, for Psychology, BPS has invested over the last 2-3 years in
building and cementing our European and international connections. These connections and relationships allow us
to draw upon a global community of professionals in championing the
contribution that Psychology can make.
An important example for us was in the
first six months of 2018 hosting the European Semester of EFPA. The stated aim of the Semester programme is
to create a common space in which European psychologists can interact and
communicate to foster the sharing and transmission of knowledge and expertise
between members and, in turn, to stimulate the ongoing development of a
European identity among psychologists across Europe. Our theme for the
Semester was Psychology Moving Humanity Forward, which encompassed much of our
agenda including equality, diversity and inclusion, policy influencing in
particular prevention, good science, and psychology education and training to
be proud of in inspiring our next generation.
What book would you recommend?
As a keen gardener and beginner allotment holder, I like to get all the
knowledge I can from both Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don, the UK’s ‘head
gardeners’ from the BBC programme Gardeners’ World. As an English Literature graduate probably
one book that would never leave my shelves is my Complete Works of William
Shakespeare and much is due for a re-read.
For anyone starting out in Psychology with an interest in human
wellbeing, Carl Rogers’ On Becoming a Person remains an inspiring doorway.
What music do you enjoy?
I love the sound of the organ.
I’m a regular attender at the concerts of the London Symphony Orchestra
too.
…………………
Nicola Gale CPsychol FBPsS, HCPC Registered Psychologist, is the Vice President of the British Psychological Society and was President in 2017-2018.
Nicola is a practitioner and academic psychologist, her current post is in the Department of Psychology at City, University of London. Her professional interests include the provision of psychology services in the workplace (encompassing mental health, wellbeing, support for access and inclusion, working relationships, and support for teams), while her teaching focuses on leadership, professional standards of practice in psychology, diversity, equality and inclusion, and clinical practice and supervision.
Nicola has worked in the National Health Service and was clinical lead and head of service for an occupational health psychology service, with both a clinical mental health and organisational focus, and also has a background in HR development and organisational development and training, as a management consultant and as an accountant. She has consulted to organisations in different industries and sectors, and worked on projects across Europe and internationally.
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