Psychosocial consequences of the Corona virus pandemic outbreak – 15th May 2020
25 members of the Standing Committee Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Psychology representing 21 countries met in a special meeting on the psychosocial consequences of the Corona virus pandemic outbreak. Updates were given on the situation in Norway, Denmark, Greece, United Kingdom, Spain, Luxembourg, Albania, Cyprus, Ukraine, Iceland, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, Germany, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia, Austria, Russia, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.
Important issues were discussed like: learning working online in psychosocial support, preparing post-crisis aftercare, the influence of the political situation, the number of affected health care workers, the media attention for the psychosocial consequence of this virus outbreak and the measures taken, the voluntary work of psychologists, the increase of domestic violence, the information material which has been developed for the general public and special target groups.
Presentations were given on the psychological consequences for families and children, and the specific role of psychologists during the crisis. A model for organisations was presented on dealing with risks, giving organisations guidance how to help employees returning to work, depending on the needs. The organisation of the public health on the national and local level, and the measures taken on a national level and the challenges it brings with it.
The Standing Committee held her meeting online due to the circumstances. Normally the Standing Committee meets twice a year in one of the European countries, combined with a symposium for the hosting National Association and the psychologists of that country working in crisis, disaster and trauma.
The different representatives stressed the importance of meeting with their colleagues around the topic of the psychosocial consequences of the Corona virus pandemic outbreak, as an excellent opportunity to learn in a fast way on this new challenge for psychologists. It gives colleagues access to a wide range of expertise. Also some psychologists have to work rather isolated or are dealing with a lack of resources. The rapid exchange of all the material that has been developed in the different countries in all the different languages, and translating original material proved also to be very helpful in the work during the Corona virus pandemic outbreak.
The Standing Committee Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Psychology is part of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations and has 33 members, representing 25 countries.
For more information visit the website www.efpa.eu, or the webpage of the Standing Committee http://disaster.efpa.eu/.You can contact your national representative who is member of the Standing Committee, or you contact the convenor Magda Rooze magda.rooze@gmail.com
