Colleagues,
On behalf of the Board of the Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP) I wish you all a good 2012.
We know from the situation that the country is experiencing that it will be an especially difficult year for many people, because of the economic and social conditions they must face. We also know that the perspectives that are given are not very hopeful regarding the future.
We psychologists have the experience of dealing with the crisis in various contexts. We can and should make what we know available to help produce changes which will help us face difficult times.
We can especially contribute so that people do not succumb to the constant bombardment of negative news, many times exaggerated to meet various objectives, and help them realistically face their conditions of life, but also with hope.
Crises, as we know, are devastating due to the diversity of the negative feelings that they lead to. And we want to immediately stop these feelings, many times by embracing solutions which are only small palliatives. We are all tired of hearing the crises are opportunities. The truth is crises are a time for transformation, both positive and negative. For transformation in general not to be negative, we need to develop our possibilities while we have the means and the strength needed. We need to direct our more creative efforts to find answers which will help us resolve problems.
Psychologists can give a very relevant contribution at this time. The study of human behaviour helps us to understand and intervene in various contexts, and we must confirm that nothing that is human and behavioural is foreign to us. Society as a group of people with experiences, thoughts, motivations and actions need the knowledge of psychologists, they need to be able to have what we know to be able to reach their objectives.
In the year in which we will hold our 1st Congress, I hope that it can be a clear affirmation of our vitality and will to contribute. Judging from the high number of psychologists who have presented their communication proposals, we have started off very well with this desire for assertiveness.
But if the Congress is to be the largest and most visible point, this assertiveness of the contributions of Psychology needs to be done every day, in many situations. We must make this common effort and show that we can help in the search for solutions for these difficult times.
We wish you a good year.
Telmo Mourinho Baptista