Peace, wisdom and resilience for a changing decade

Over many years, and several European Congresses, I've seen a fair few 'Psi' symbols turned into a tree for a conference logo. But, as Conference Chair Dr Eleni Karayianni pointed out in this opening ceremony, there's something particularly fitting about the olive tree. It signifies peace, wisdom, resilience: core values driving psychologists in their mission to support human wellbeing. 'Let this be a space,' she continued, 'to innovate, collaborate and translate' in order to face the challenges of what the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations have termed 'the 2030 agenda'. 

Poly Gregora has been advocating for mental health in Cyprus since she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder almost 20 years ago. Here, she deployed the myths and tales of her land – including three beautifully animated short films, directed by Markos Kassinos – to remind us that truth and meaning can be found not only in science, but in story. Oral traditions bring to life forgotten faces from the past, a way to reflect and make meaning in an increasingly chaotic world. 

Many of these myths are grounded in fear, confusion, change. And so through the films we heard of hostile forces (very much a psycho-political backdrop to this event), of lost beauty, of passion and love. There are a lot of huge rocks scattered across the island, in strange formations and unusual shapes. Cypriots have woven tales around these rocks and how they ended up where they did (including Petra tou Romiou, shown above). When the rocks splash into the ocean, said Kassinos, the concentric circles spreading out from them serve as messages and emotions from a parallel world, the 'truth of life'. Such stories are also 'tools for reflection', Gregora said, showing that we can – as she has, as an Expert by Lived Experience – turn our greatest fears into assets. 

'A clear, rational, evidence-based understanding of reality'

Next up, the incoming President of the Cyprus Psychologists' Association, Dr Evita Katsimicha, urged that 'Psychology can and must be involved to meet the challenge of the decade ahead'. Professor Christoph Steinebach, at his last European Congress as EFPA President, welcomed 'Mrs President', noting that 'Perhaps the world needs more Mrs Presidents'. He insisted that although 'the sheer pace and complexity of global crisis can feel overwhelming… Psychology must, and wants to, step forward to help'. 

In this endeavour, Steinebach said, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals should be our guide. Noting our proximity to the foundations of stoicism, he called for 'a psychological science that is based on a clear, rational, evidence-based understanding of reality'. Practice must be research-informed, and research practice-informed. 

Complex times also call for tricky balancing acts, and Steinebach encouraged us to escape the 'ivory tower of pure research', while also ensuring that Psychology doesn't descend into 'mere activism'.

There's sure to be lots to explore over the coming days in this context. I will be chairing discussion panels on digitalisation, climate change, and the European Year of Mental Health; alongside others on policy making, open science and children's mental health; plus countless papers and posters. I'll do my best to update this page as the conference progresses.