Following the airing of RTÉ Investigates on Monday 06 March 2023, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
wishes to comment on the content of the programme, particularly statutory regulation, and the practising as a psychologist by unqualified individuals.
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is the learned and professional body for psychologists in Ireland. Established in 1970, the Society currently has over 4,000 members. The PSI is committed to the promotion of psychological knowledge and practice; engaging and developing its members; and bringing the insights of psychological knowledge to the benefit of society. The PSI strongly advocates for the protection of the public and protecting the discipline and profession of psychology. Membership of the PSI is on a voluntary basis.
The PSI press release issued following the RTÉ Investigates programme can be read in full by clicking here.
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In June 2021, the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child decided to draft a general comment on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change and invited stakeholders to draft submissions. The PSI's Special Interest Group in Human Rights and Psychology (SIGHRP) responded on behalf of the Society. You can read the submission in full here.
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Please note that the following call for nominations is only applicable to PSI Chartered members.
The Department of Justice has contacted the PSI with regard to the Parole Act 2019 and, specifically, with regard to the appointment of members to the statutory Parole Board. A copy of that Act is available here.
The PSI has been requested to nominate one man and one woman, both to be suitably qualified and experienced individuals, as members of the Parole Board. If you are interested in this position, please complete this form and submit a CV to Divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie by 5pm, Friday 03 March.
In considering a role as a member of the Parole Board, it should be noted by all concerned that there is likely to be a considerable time commitment involved. Click here to learn more about what the role entails.
You can also learn more about what the Parole Board does by visiting its website here.
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The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) has welcomed the Mental Health Commission’s interim report of the Independent Review of the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the State by the Inspector of Mental Health Services. The Society wishes to highlight the many concerns expressed in the interim report including ‘the lack of clinical governance’. It is clear from the interim report that the current access, governance, and risk management structures are wholly unacceptable.
The PSI has long advocated for a shared governance structure and distributed clinical responsibility model of mental health service that is more consistent with client centred, recovery-oriented models of practice.
The PSI concurs with the interim report position that the current model of care, which holds the perception that all clinical responsibility rests with a single profession namely the Consultant Psychiatrist, is ‘outdated’, ‘unsustainable’ and out of line with any international best practice.
View our statement is full here.
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The LLI began in 2021 as a Presidential Initiative of APA 2020 President, Sandra Shullman, PhD, with the support of the Global Psychology Alliance (GPA). The LLI brings together established and emerging leaders in the field from across the world with the aim of creating a leadership pipeline and ensuring the voices of future leaders of psychology are represented in global efforts. Read more about the LLI here.
The 2023 Global Psychology Learning Leadership Institute (LLI) will be presented in a virtual format that will incorporate both synchronous (live group activities and presentations) and asynchronous (individual or group projects on your own time) methods. The institute will officially begin in March and end in December of 2023, which the possibility of additional opportunities for Emerging Leaders (i.e., mentees) in 2024 and beyond.
Mentorship
Mentors and Emerging Leaders will be matched primarily based on shared interests. The LLI strives to match mentors and mentees from different cultural backgrounds to create the opportunity for a meaningful cross-cultural exchange. Participants will be expected to attend all live sessions and to complete project milestones on time in accordance with the schedule provided. Materials may be given before or after live sessions to enhance discussion and engagement.
Eligibility and Application Process for Mentees
The LLI is open to early career psychologists who hold a master’s or doctoral degree and do not currently hold a high-level leadership position in their association, university, place of employment, or other institution. Applicants must also be a current member of one of the Global Psychology Alliance participating organisations. Please review the application for additional details and eligibility criteria.
All application materials must be submitted by Sunday 22 January, 2023.
If you wish to apply to become a mentor for the Global Psychology Learning Leadership Institute, please click here to access our form and submit it no later than Sunday 22 January.
To apply for the Emerging Leaders (i.e., mentees) programme, please complete and submit the following application form, with any materials included, no later than Sunday 22 January.
If you have any queries, please email Divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie.
Please be advised that only PSI members, or members of the Global Psychology Alliance, can apply. You will be asked to provide a membership number in the submission form.
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On 01 January 2023, Dr Anne Kehoe became the Society's 53rd President.
Anne is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at UCD and a Senior Clinical Psychologist working for Children’s Health Ireland. Prior to this she worked for 10 years in Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) for the HSE and the NHS. After completing her degree in Psychology at Maynooth University, Kildare, Anne undertook a PhD exploring third-wave behavioural therapies. Following this she completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Queen's University, Belfast.
Anne joined the Society in 2007 and has since served on the PSI’s Communications and Events Committee, the Division of Clinical Psychology Committee and is a founding committee member of the PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health.
Please click here if you wish to read Anne's interview with the The Irish Psychologist last December.
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Chair of the Psychological Society of Ireland’s Special Interest Group in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (SIGPIMH) Dr Eithne Ní Longphuirt and committee member Dr Jillian Doyle both attended the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Mental Health on Tuesday 18 October to discuss issues relating to perinatal mental health.
To read their opening statement to the sub-committee in full, please click here.
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The HSCP critical care advisory group (CCAG) is currently seeking nominations for the following:
The role of the HSCP CC Advisory Group will be to support the HSCP lead critical care to provide strategic direction and leadership ensuring the development and implementation of required;
The Terms of Reference can be viewed here. The deadline for nominations is 5pm, Monday 24 October. If you are a Chartered member, and interested, but have not recieved an email in relation to this, please contact divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie.
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13.10.2022
The PSI wishes to extend thanks to chairperson Senator Frances Black and the Sub-Committee for their work and commitment on this important issue and for extending an invitation to the PSI to present.
The PSI looks forward to continuing to proactively work with Government to bring about the legislative amendments recommended to ensure that the best interests of all those who use mental health services is enshrined in law.
To read the recommendations that the PSI endorsed in full, please see here.
Read the Oireachtas Sub-Committee Report here.
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09.09.2022
To coincide with the year’s World Suicide Prevention Day, which takes place on Saturday 10 September, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is calling for the urgent implementation of the National Traveller Mental Health Strategy.
In working with the Traveller Visibility Group from Cork, the PSI is using World Suicide Prevention Day to draw attention to suicide within the Travelling community and the urgent need for a Traveller mental health strategy.
Please click here for the full press release
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11.08.2022
Do you know an early career psychologist that should be awarded for their work? Or a more senior PSI member that should be recognised for their contribution to research in psychology or professional practice in psychology? If so, then now is the time to make a nomination for the 2022 PSI Member Awards!
The Member Awards are designed to recognise excellence in research, practice, and education in psychology by members. These awards will range from those studying or teaching psychology to those making significant contributions in their professional careers. The award categories include:
The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Wednesday 12 October 2022.
Please click here for further information and to download the nomination form.
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10.08.2022
The PSI today, Wednesday 10 August 2022, provided the Society's pre-budget 2023 submission to Mr Pascal Donohoe, T.D., Minister for Finance.
In this year's PSI submission, the Government and the Taoiseach are called upon to provide multi-annual funding to address the significant gaps in Ireland’s psychological workforce.
The PSI urges the Government to:
Click here to view the PSI Pre-budget 2023 Submission.
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04.07.2022
To encourage participation and inclusion, this year’s PSI Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place both in-person and online (hybrid) on Saturday 27 August, 2022. Details on registration and location of the AGM will follow in due course. For all other information about the AGM, please log in to the Member Dashboard area and select the 'PSI AGM' section.
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17.06.2022
On Monday 20 June, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) celebrates World Refugee Day. This year’s theme is the right to seek safety. Whoever needs safety, whenever they need safety, and wherever they are from, everyone has the right to seek safety. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) considers World Refugee Day as an opportunity to build empathy and understanding of the plight of refugees and to recognise the strength and resilience of refugees in rebuilding their lives.
The full press release can be viewed by clicking here.
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13.06.2022
Infant Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13-19 June 2022, with the theme being ‘Understanding Early Trauma’. The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is supporting this awareness week through the release of a variety of short videos on themes related to infant mental health. Developed by the PSI Special Interest Group in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health (SIGPIMH), the videos will aim to bring awareness to infant mental health and ways in which infants can be supported in their development during this important stage in their lives.
Videos include:
The promotional videos developed to support Infant Mental Health Awareness Week are being made available via the Psychological Society of Ireland YouTube channel throughout the course of the awareness week, as well as being promoted on PSI and SIGPIMH social media platforms.
The full press release can be viewed by clicking here.
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25.05.2022
The MQCC processes applications for Chartered Membership and Graduate Membership for applicants with overseas qualifications. We are looking for Graduate or Chartered members who are interested in qualifications both in Ireland and abroad, and who are involved with the professional practice area, academic sphere and research area. The Committee meets every 6-8 weeks via Zoom to review applications. Close liaison is maintained with the PSI office who supports the Committee. Members of the Committee receive 10 learning credits each year, and the Chair of the Committee receives 15. Current committee members are happy to talk with any interested members regarding MQCC work. Any interested members should contact membership@psychologicalsociety.ie and provide us with a short bio as soon as possible.
We are also looking for Chartered and Graduate members to join the MQCC for the purpose of reviewing applications for Chartered Membership of those with overseas qualifications in Clinical, Counselling and Educational psychology who do not have validation by the Department of Health. We are looking to recruit reviewers in the areas of Clinical, Counselling and Education for the evaluation of the equivalence of NON ROI qualifications to the Society's accredited qualifications and standards. Interested applicants are also asked to submit a short bio to membership@psychologicalsociety.ie.
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20.05.2022
A subgroup of PSI members and representatives from Heads of Psychology Services Ireland met recently in relation to the National Model of Service (MoS) document Mental Health Services for Children with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMHS-ID).
The PSI welcomes the development of a model of service for children with an intellectual disability. PSI President Dr Vincent McDarby recently sent a comprehensive response, addressed to the National Clinical Director and Lead for Integrated Care, with regards to assisting the review by the Chief Clinical Officer’s Clinical Forum and the final version of the CAMHS-ID Model of Service. You can read the letter in full here.
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16.05.2022
A lead HSCP representative is being sought to join the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCPED) Oversight and Planning Group.
Purpose:
To advise the National Clinical Programme (NCP) Team on the following:
The NCPED has a National Oversight Group, which meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 10am -12noon, to oversee the full implementation of the ED clinical programme in line with the agreed Terms of Reference.
A nomination form has been emailed to all PSI Chartered members. Please contact divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie for more details.
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10.05.2022
On Tuesday 10 May 2022, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) launched the second edition of the Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents.
The event saw Adam Harris, CEO of Ireland's national autism charity AsIAm, officially launch the PSI guidelines. Mr Harris stated: "The document engages with the real tension which exists between the importance of an accurate, empowering diagnosis on the one hand, and the development of equitable needs-based services on the other.
"Whilst we know that over time diagnosis may be less important for accessing services, it will remain critically important for informing the supports that are provided by enabling an individual, a family and the professionals who work with us to best understand what supports are required."
The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, also joined the PSI in welcoming the guidelines, which promote a human rights-based model of disability. Dr Muldoon stated: "From a children’s rights viewpoint, the production of the PSI’s Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents is crucial in maintaining the drive to ensure the best possible professional support for all children who may be considered as having autism."
The new edition of the guidelines, which replace the first edition from 2010, has been developed to promote proficiency and to help facilitate a high level of professional practice by psychologists. The guidelines were developed over a three-year process, led by a working group from the committee of the PSI Special Interest Group in Autism, including autistic psychologists, and in consultation with the broader membership of the PSI.
For the full press release please click here and here to view the Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents, 2nd edition.
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09.05.2022
On Tuesday, 10 May 2022, the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) will launch the second edition of the Professional Practice Guidelines for the Assessment, Formulation, and Diagnosis of Autism in Children and Adolescents.
Adam Harris, CEO of Ireland's national autism charity AsIAm, will officially launch the PSI guidelines. The Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, will join PSI in welcoming the guidelines, which promote a human rights-based model of disability.
This updated edition of the PSI autism guidelines replaces the first edition from 2010. Since the publication of the 2010 guidelines the landscape of autism awareness, understanding, research, and practice has changed considerably, both internationally and within the Irish context.
The new edition of the guidelines has been developed to promote proficiency and to help facilitate a high level of professional practice by psychologists. The guidelines were developed over a three-year process, led by a working group from the committee of the PSI Special Interest Group in Autism (SIGA), including autistic psychologists, and in consultation with the broader membership of the PSI. Ms Ruth Connolly, Chair of SIGA and Principal Clinical Psychology Manager, will also speak at the launch.
For the full press release please click here.
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06.05.2022
The Federation of Swiss Psychologists (FSP), the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA), and the American Psychological Association (APA) are collaborating to develop a presence for the science and profession of Psychology at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva.
This is to complement the longstanding work of the APA at the UN in New York, and aims to broaden the reach of European Psychology into international organisations that exist to find solutions to the problems of society. The collaborating organisations now seek applications from psychologists to serve on a team of approximately 4-5 advocates at the UN in Geneva.
To learn more about the role and how to apply, see here.
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26.04.2022
The call for abstracts is now open for this year's PSI Annual Conference! The final day of submission is Friday 10 June 2022. You can submit an abstract here.
The 2022 Conference is set to take place from Wednesday 09 - Friday 11 November inclusive at the Midland's Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. To learn more about the event, including keynote speakers and Terms & Conditions, please click here.
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14.04.2022
A Psychological First Aid (PFA) guide has been compiled by the Psychological Society of Ireland’s (PSI) Special Interest Group in Human Rights & Psychology (SIGHRP). This guide is for those who will have contact with Ukrainian refugees and will be useful for those involved with hosting Ukrainians displaced by the conflict. It is aimed at helping the public understand how best to support people who have experienced a significant trauma.
PFA is humane, supportive, and practical assistance to fellow human beings who recently suffered exposure to serious stressors. It is a way of providing support from one human to another human who is experiencing distress. See the full press release here.
The Psychological First Aid (PFA) guide can be viewed here.
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08.04.2022
The PSI has written to Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services (NRSCS), in support of the position statement submitted to the NRSCS by the expert advisory group of psychologists specialising in cardiology regarding allocation of psychology personnel to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in Ireland.
The PSI has previously drawn attention to the inequitable access to psychological support for cardiac patients in Ireland and fully supports this position statement which explicitly outlines the psychological workforce needed in CR.
Only one in five CR centres in Ireland can access psychological support for their patients, and yet this service is highly prioritised by both patients and CR centres alike.
The PSI has called on Prof. Philip Nolan to support our call for adequate psychological staffing for this vulnerable patient population in the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services (2022). You can read PSI President Dr Vincent McDarby's letter to Prof. Philip Nolan here. Read the position statement here. You can also read a feature article that expands on the position statement here. .
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08.04.2022
A message to all PSI Chartered members. A number of calls for Expressions of Interest (EoI) to the following positions have been made.
A lead HSCP representative is now being sought to join the Steering Committee of the Implementation of National Clinical Guideline No. 21 “Appropriate Prescribing of Psychotropic Medication for Non-cognitive Symptoms in People with Dementia”. Please send your nomination form to Divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie by the deadline of Wednesday 13 April 2022. The nomination form can be accessed here.
Two HSCP lead representatives are being sought to join the National Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons Rehabilitation Framework for Older People. Please send your nomination form to Divisions@psychologicalsociety.ie by the deadline of Wednesday 13 April 2022. The form can be accessed here.
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05.04.2022
On Tuesday 05 April 2022, the PSI made two opening statements at separate Oireacthas committee meetings.
PSI President-elect Dr Anne Kehoe and Dr Michael Drumm, PSI Past President (2011/12) and current Council member, attended the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on Mental Health meeting for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill delivering PSI's opening statement, which can be viewed here.
Mr Mark Smyth, PSI Past President (2020) and current Council member, attended the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Roundtable Discussion on the Future Funding of Higher Education where he delivered PSI's opening statement, which can be viewed here.
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01.04.2022
The PSI is delighted to announce Professor Steven Pinker as a keynote speaker for the Society's 2022 Annual Conference, which takes place on Thursday 10 & Friday 11 November at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Professor Pinker will deliver his keynote address, Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters, to PSI Conference delegates on the Thursday from 16:00 - 17:00 GMT via a live video link.
Professor Pinker is an experimental psychologist who conducts research in visual cognition, psycholinguistics, and social relations. Currently Johnstone Professor of Psychology at Harvard, he has also taught at Stanford and MIT. He has won numerous prizes for his research, his teaching, and his books. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Humanist of the Year, a recipient of nine honorary doctorates, and one of Foreign Policy’s “World’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals” and Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today.”
The call for abstracts for this year's PSI Annual Conference opens in the coming weeks, with delegates registration being available from July.
Please click here for further information.
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24.03.2022
The PSI is delighted to confirm that Dr Michael Drumm has been re-appointed as the PSI representative to the Board of the Mental Health Commission. Dr Drumm, current PSI Council member and 2011/12 PSI President, will begin the new three-year term on 05 April 2022 until 04 April 2025.
For further information on the Board of the Mental Health Commission please click here.
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23.03.2022
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the learned and professional body for psychology in the Republic of Ireland, is calling on the Health Service Executive (HSE), Government, and trade unions to urgently act to protect psychologists from being directed to engage in unlawful procedures related to the Preliminary Team Assessment (PTA).
The PSI notes the recent High Court Judicial Review by Ms Justice Siobhán Phelan delivered on 11 March 2022, in which Justice Phelan concluded that “there is an error of law as to the interpretation of Part 2 assessment requirements, as reflected in the terms of the SOP, which renders the assessments unlawful.” This judgement is welcomed by the PSI as a validation of the concerns PSI has been expressing since 2018 prior to the implementation of the Assessment of Need (AON) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
For the full press release, please click here.
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11.03.2022
This is a reminder that graduates of the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and the National University of Ireland (NUI) registered to vote in the Seanad elections can vote in the upcoming bye-election. Ballot papers, which have already been distributed to all registered electors, must be returned by post by Wednesday 30 March. A total of 17 candidates are to compete in the upcoming bye-election, with Paula Roseingrave, a Chartered Member of the PSI joining a list of previous PSI members in contesting for a Seanad seat. The bye-election is to fill the vacancy caused by Labour Senator Ivana Bacik’s election to the Dáil.
To learn more about Paula, and her motivations behind seeking election to the Seanad, you can view her profile here.
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10.03.2022
You can find the February status update on the preparations for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 here.
This status update includes the work and actions that are being undertaken in the HSE to prepare for commencement and is issued after each monthly HSE ADM Implementation Steering Group meeting.
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04.03.2022
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the professional body for psychology in the Republic of Ireland, strongly condemns the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and the aggression shown towards Ukrainian citizens.
The effects of this war on people’s psychological health and wellbeing are huge, with the consequences being traumatic and long-lasting. Psychology is one of the main professional services which deals with such traumatic fall out and so, our central mission is to avoid its occurrence, wherever, whenever, from whomever. This invasion will bring immediate and long-term physical and psychological suffering to the people of Ukraine, as well as loss of life. The PSI is mindful that here in Ireland, as elsewhere around the world, the families of Ukrainian citizens are also affected and are likely to suffer psychologically.
We have received correspondence from our colleagues in The National Psychological Association of Ukraine, who have reported the challenges they are facing trying to support their citizens. The PSI stands in solidarity with the National Psychological Association of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against this military invasion and uphold the essential values of democracy and respect for human rights.
You can also read the statement in full as a PDF here (English language version). Click here for the translation in Ukrainian and here for Russian.
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25.02.2022
HSCP representatives are now being sought to join the Integrated Care Pathways for Rare Diseases Stakeholder Group. The purpose of the group is to review and develop an agreed set of care pathways for rare diseases that will provide best practice guidance and support to patients, families and health care professionals.
You can access the nomination form detailing the disciplines and the role requirement checklist here.
If you would like to submit an Expression of Interest please fill out the form here by no later than Thursday 03 March.
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22.02.2022
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) is concerned at the delay in holding a citizens’ assembly on drug use, which was expected to take place this year but has now been pushed to 2023. In June 2020, the five-year Programme for Government document included pledges to convene citizens’ assemblies on drug use, the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin, as well as biodiversity.
Recent indications from Government are that the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use will take place next year, after the citizens’ assemblies on the Dublin mayoralty and biodiversity are complete.
PSI president Dr Vincent McDarby says: "The Psychological Society of Ireland regrets the Government’s intention to delay the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use. The Society supports the proposed amendment from Senator Lynn Ruane calling for an end to the delay in the establishment of such an important, and much needed, citizens’ assembly. It is vital that the State response to drug use and abuse is improved, and to bring forward such proposals in that regard”.
The amendment from Senator Ruane is to be debated on Wednesday, 23 February 2022, in the Oireachtas.
To access the statement as a PDF please click here.
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21.02.2022
The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) has written to the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to the National Model of Service draft document that was recently circulated with regard to Mental Health Services for Children with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMHS-ID). PSI members have significant concerns in relation to this draft document and the model of service as currently outlined.
The PSI has respectfully requested that the launch of the Model of Service, on Thursday 03 March 2022, be postponed. This is so that the PSI, as the representative body of psychologist