ISSP Multi-societal Sport Psychology Think Tank on Athlete Mental Health
Local Organizing Committee: United States Olympic Committee
October 15-16 this year, the United States Olympic Committee will host the ISSP Multi-societal international Think Tank on Athlete Mental Health at its Colorado Springs Training Center. This Think Tank was launched on the initiative of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) with engagement from the world’s major sport psychology societies, presently including AASP, FEPSAC and ASPASP.
Leading researchers and practitioners representing international sport psychology organizations from around the world will discuss the implementation of best practices on mental health for Olympic athletes.
The multi-societal Think Tank event is planned to be an annual event, allowing the discussion to continue in an international forum. The inaugural Think Tank on athlete mental health was hosted by Team Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark in 2018, and resulted in the production of a consensus statement on improving the mental health of Olympic athletes: https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2019.1570473
In the statement, the experts outlined several key future challenges such as defining mental health in a performance context, developing performance environments that nourish athlete mental health, and mapping the role and profile of a mental health officer in sport. These topics will be further developed in the second Think Tank.
In 2020 the Brazilian Olympic Committee will host the third Think Tank. Focus will be on the mental health of high performance coaches. The ongoing change in location will stimulate cultural sensitivity in relation to this topic and ensure that cross-national concerns and solutions are discussed for the betterment of elite athlete mental health, globally.
MEMBERSHIP
The ISSP is the only worldwide organization of scholars explicitly concerned with sport psychology. Members of the Society include researchers, psychologists, educators, coaches, and administrators, as well as students and athletes interested in sport psychology.
Membership has many benefits, including an annual subscription to the IJSEP, access to ISSP’s awards and fellows, and a reduced fee for attending ISSP conferences.
WORLD CONGRESS
LATEST ISSP NEWS
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President’s Message, February, 2020
Hard to believe that we are almost at the half way point to the 2021 ISSP Congress, in Taipei. The congress location will be an exciting one for the ISSP, as we return to Asia.…Written on Monday, 25 February 2019 14:24
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Final Report: International Think Tank on Mental Health of High Performance Athletes
Hosts: Team Denmark and University of Southern Denmark Odense, Denmark In September 2018 the International Society of Sport Psychology, the University of Southern Denmark and Team Denmark, launched the first International Think-Tank on mental health…Written on Sunday, 17 February 2019 18:49
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CEW 2018 in Daegu Successful Participants
Individuals who have successfully completed requirements of the Continued Education Workshop that was held in Daegu (South Korea) on June 29, 2018. This experience accounted for a total of 8 or 16 Continued Education credit hours. Topics: “International…Written on Monday, 11 February 2019 19:20
President’s Message, February, 2020
Hard to believe that we are almost at the half way point to the 2021 ISSP Congress, in Taipei. The congress location will be an exciting one for the ISSP, as we return to Asia. Though much has been written in English from authors residing in North American, European and the Oceanic region, equal vibrancy is evident across Asia. Indeed, the ISSP Managing Council was graciously invited to the Asia South Pacific Association of Sport Psychology’s Annual Congress in Summer, 2018. There was strong evidence of the highest quality scholarship and practice at ASPASP, with both facets often bridged across most presentations. With this vibrancy from the East front and center in sport and exercise psychology, we eagerly await the Eastern hospitality of our hosts in Taipei and even wider engagement from Asia, culminating in the 2021 Congress.
Since Christmas, there have been a few new developments, essential to ISSP’s progress . One important development is the development of an ISSP YouTube Channel, which will go live within one week from today. The previous 2017 Congress Keynotes graciously permitted the ISSP to share their talks with our membership. These talks are now memorialized as part of ISSP and they are found within thee ISSP membership section of our website. Additionally, there will be publicly accessible talks, even for non-members, where they can now find Presidential addresses, such as mine from 2017, and the 2017 invitation from current 2021 Congress Chair, Dr. Yu-Kai Chang, to attend ISSP 2021. The opportunities afforded through the YouTube Channel will also expand into further virtual learning opportunities for people seeking ISSP Registry status, and then continuing education, beginning later this Autumn. This YouYube initiative is graciously being led by Dr. Daniel Gucciardi – it promises to be a tremendous membership benefit.
The ISSP Registry is also advancing very quickly behind the scenes. Through the leadership of Dr. Chris Harwood, most of the application guidelines are already developed for ISSP-R general and grandparenting routes. The ISSP-R Supervision Guidelines are also well in development, as is a discrete series of practical ethical guidelines that will be brought forth in relation to members who apply for and then gain ISSP-R status. These guidelines are being led by Dr. Brandonn Harris and Alessando Quartiroli, with consultation from accredited experts, worldwide. This Spring, these guidelines for ISSP-R application will be made available to you, so that application you are readily prepared for an Autumn launch and efficient submission process. The development of your application might consume some time, so begin to plan now and familiarize yourself with the guidelines as they become live within the next two months. Then begin to put together your application in the few months that follow and we will await eagerly.
The ISSP Think Tank was also a resounding success last year, hosted by the University of Southern Denmark and Team Denmark. Fortunate for those who attended the Think Tank focused on athlete mental health, that discussion will resume in 2019, hosted by the United States Olympic Committee this October (dates soon to be determined). During 2020, Brazil will also be seeking to host a form of ISSP Think Tank, and they have requested it be focused on staffing mental health. The breadth of this meeting is yet to be determined, but details will be updated soon. Further Think Tank initiatives will also certainly bubble to the surface, with the engagement of our Managing Council, and if you envision an opportunity, you can also reach out to Dr. Kristoffer Henriksen and me to discuss any such ideas.
Finally, our ISSP committees continue to expand, as there is a lot to be done. ISSP members are welcomed to apply to join committees, such as those devoted to emerging countries projects. Please examine our organizational chart and see where you might be interested in engaging, then please correspond with the respective committee chair, with me copied. We welcome your engagement and thank those who have recently engaged. There is always place for enthusiastic members to join more regularly in ISSP activities. Engagement will also provide an important pathway to your (and (our) succession planning as a society.
Warmest wishes,
Robert Schinke, EdD, CRC
President of the International Society of Sport Psychology
