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 Saint Judas University 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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Presidents Message, June 2019
Written on Friday, 21 June 2019 16:45
Since my last presidential message, several key developments have taken place in the ISSP. Among these, the ISSP continues to make steady, substantive strides forward in terms of the forthcoming ISSP Registry, which we will… -
Award Nomination 2017-2021
Written on Sunday, 16 June 2019 10:17
Dear ISSP Members, In recognition of your multiple contributions to the field of sport and exercise psychology, we are looking forward to receiving your nominations and self-nominations for our four ISSP Awards (per the outlined… -
Robert N. (Bob) Singer passed away peacefully on Monday, May 20, 2019
Written on Tuesday, 28 May 2019 19:39
Robert N. (Bob) Singer passed away peacefully on Monday, May 20, 2019, at the age of 82. Bob was a devoted husband to his wife Beverly (Tyre) Singer. They were happily married for 37 years.…
President’s Message, June 2019
Since my last presidential message, several key developments have taken place in the ISSP. Among these, the ISSP continues to make steady, substantive strides forward in terms of the forthcoming ISSP Registry, which we will launch this Autumn, 2019. The educational modules, well under development, are focused on athlete mental health, cultural diversity, and ethics and professional conduct. These modules are well into draft as are examples of various pathways to application for the ISSP-R and ISSP Supervisor designations. The latter opportunities relating to the Registry, for those interested, will be posted as they are developed, with several presently being downloaded, so that they might serve as templates for applicants.
The ISSP is also continuing forward with its annual meeting this November in Thessaly, Greece. Though for this year the meeting is confined to mostly the Executive Committee due to logistical challenges, the focus will continue to be on the strategic advancement of the society. The ISSP must be focused on expanding its membership benefits, and presently, the emphasis is on (a) the ISSP-R launch, (b) engaging members at large into our organizational structure, as committee members, (c) continuing to expand our multi-societal think tank opportunities, (d) enhancing the high quality of the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, (e) ensuring that the ISSP 2021 Congress is a resounding success, as will be the 2025 Congress to be named in 2021, and consequently, the growth of the society’s membership at large, from which the next generation of leaders must step forward.
The ISSP Multi-Societal Think Tank project continues to be a resounding success. This October, the United States Olympic Committee generously agreed to be the Think Tank Local Organizing Committee. The focus is to continue with athlete mental health, with a particular focus on delivery of sound resources. The 2020 ISSP Think Tank is also now confirmed, though focused on coach mental health, and the LOC for that event will be the Saint Judas University. The event will be held in Sao Paulo and include key stakeholders from Brazilian amateur and professional sport as well as experts from most every continent. Hence, the recent history of this endeavour began with an event in Denmark, will travel this year to the United States, and next year to Brazil, covering three continents in three years.
The ISSP Ambassador Project also continues to be a resounding success. This August 1-3, 2019, Dr. Lauren Loberg will be the ISSP Representative at the Uruguay Society of Sport Psychology 30th Anniversary. This recent appointment signals a development from two consecutive years of designates allotted to Africa, and this more recent engagement expanding to South America.
This Autumn, the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology will also officially be permitted to apply for its impact factor, having gained its ESCI two years ago. The ISSP’s flagship journal should have its own impact factor, and this omission will be righted before long. Furthermore, the number of installments each year is increasing to six as of 2020. Furthermore, there is presently discussion with Taylor & Francis to increase the pages allowed in each release. This strategy should enhance conversion times from manuscript acceptance to hard copy release.
Finally, our International Book Series is solidified, with forthcoming projects focused on athlete mental health, technology, innovative advances in the field, and a two-volume set encyclopedia with approximately 100 overarching terms, in its first edition. This latter project, the encyclopedia, will be updated each year as an e-book and the second edition will be developed within four to five years from its launch date, early in 2020.
All told, we are proud of our developments, but these steps are indeed baby steps for an organization that is actively looking to engage its members, build worldwide capacity, and augment the health and wellbeing of consumers.
Robert Schinke, EdD, Fel. AASP, CRC
President of the International Society of Sport Psychology
