Conferences and Study Days

MA in Clinical Psychology

Since the program aims to position the role of the psychologist in the community and society at the center of activity, every year conferences and seminars are held featuring lecturers from the forefront of research and academic activity. The events are designed for clinical psychology students, clinical geropsychology students, and the community of therapists.

One example of this is the annual conference, “Understand to Prevent,” which addresses suicide and takes place every spring. The conference, whose venue alternates between the Ruppin Academic Center’s campus and that of the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College, brings together 400 mental health professionals, researchers, educators, and psychologists who wish to deepen their understanding of this painful topic and take steps to prevent this phenomenon and treat those experiencing mental distress. At the conference on the Ruppin campus in 2016, the guest of honor was Prof. Vladimir Carli from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Prof. Carli, an internationally renowned researcher who formulated a plan to lower suicide rates, presented the impressive applied results at the conference and discussed how they spurred a significant reduction in the suicide rate among students throughout Europe. Other presentations at the conference revealed fascinating findings regarding psychological treatment for suicidal individuals and ways to prevent suicide among different populations in Israel, such as IDF soldiers, the Arab sector, and new mothers. Another guest was Prof. Yoram Yuval, who discussed innovate suicide prevention therapies and their efficacy. The concluding panel at the conference considered at-risk populations, such as LGBT, prisoners, and immigrants, and experts presented ways to identify suicidal individuals in these populations.

The Ruppin Academic Center has dedicated itself to the principles of social involvement and cultural sensitivity. The battle to prevent suicide and promote accessible and culturally sensitive mental health treatment, like other social struggles, is an important social issue to which academia is capable of making a significant contribution. The Ruppin Academic Center therefore initiates conferences and seminars such as these.