The Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses (OPP) was present at this first annual meeting of the Portuguese Association of Occupational Health Psychology (APPSO), which took place last Wednesday, in Porto. At the opening session Samuel Antunes, Vice-president of the Order, highlighted that Occupational Health is an area which is emerging in Portugal and so is a «possible path for Psychology professionals».

Even though this is an area which requires training and specific certification, the Vice-President of the Order believes that psychologists are the best prepared to develop this area successfully. This is because of the preparation and skills that they have in the promotion of health, but mostly in the prevention and reduction of psycho-social risks.

Samuel Antunes also listed other areas in which psychologists can make an important contribution, namely in the education of health, self-monitoring and self-management of skills connected to occupational health. Psychologists can also develop skills to avoid and prevent behaviour of risk to health, give support in the definition of policies and strategies aimed at workers, employers and governmental entities. They can also develop risk evaluations for physical and mental health, and also the psychological and psycho-social consequences of illnesses including chronic illnesses and occupational accidents.

The Portuguese Association of Occupational Health Psychology (APPSO) was created to make the area of psychology more dynamic. Even though the Association is not new, its has little promotion in Portugal. Its objective is the stimulation of a group of scientific and pedagogic activities, both through the promotion of courses and also research carried out by various collaborators from different study areas.