In brief from the BPS, July/August 2023

BPS Careers Festival returns in autumn

After a successful first event last year, the BPS Psychology Careers Festival will return this November. The online event will feature 'festival tents' running interactive sessions including one on 'hidden psychology', exploring careers where psychology is used in ways which may not be immediately apparent.

It will also feature an employability fayre, where experts will share tips on how to prepare for a career in psychology and delegates can practice key skills for psychology careers in workshops. Small, local in-person events will also run at some UK universities during the festival.

Early bird registration will be opening soon via the BPS Events page. See The Psychologist for a report from last year's festival.

Two BPS mentoring schemes up-and-running

The Division of Clinical Psychology Mentorship Programme and the South West Branch Mentoring Scheme have recently started as part of the BPS mentoring service. Originally announced late last year, the mentoring service aims to provide a new infrastructure for mentoring programmes from around the society.

The service is also set to welcome the Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology's Mentoring Programme, with the first cohort of mentees running from May until November this year. As part of the new service, the careers team has set up a Mentoring Network Review Group, featuring the scheme leaders from the South West Branch's pilot scheme, to help the Society develop its mentorship offering for members at different stages of their careers.

If you want to start a mentoring scheme email [email protected]

Also, see our interview with Dawn Godsen.

BPS response to Met Police's decision to stop attending mental health 999 calls

The BPS has responded to news that, from September, the Met Police will not attend mental-health-related 999 calls unless there is a threat to life. Dr Roman Raczka, BPS president-elect and chair of the Division of Clinical Psychology, said that while it was positive that people in mental health crisis would be supported by trained mental health practitioners, more time and resources were needed if the Met were to implement its plans in a safe, effective way.

Raczka added that this decision was particularly concerning at a time when mental health services were already stretched beyond capacity. 'Clearly, the Met Police are not the right people to deal with mental health crises – but having sufficient trained mental health practitioners to provide this support will take time.'

Visit BPS response to Metropolitan Police decision to stop attending 999 calls linked to mental health incidents to read Raczka's full statement