PREFACE
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mother earth and every life it supports has highlighted the role and significance of psychology. Urging the public to learn to comply with physical distancing, helping people to cope with their distress during isolation, and the stigma towards those who are identified as positive are some of the challenges faced. After the initial shock of the pandemic, people are slowly getting into a different phase of realization. What emerges next is not known. Preparedness can help to cope with what may come up.
The Centre for Applied Psychological Studies (CAPS), Thiruvananthapuram sent out an invitation to the psychology community through the e-groups of psychologists and through social media requesting articles on the major theme, ‘Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges of Indian Psychologists’ on May 15, 2020. To motivate the students and professionals, prizes to the top 3 entries were also offered. The option to write on 14 sub-themes was given. CAPS sought any Indian Citizen, living in India or abroad and a psychologist or student of psychology or who has studied psychology to respond. CAPS received 29 submissions and selected 5 of them for publication. In addition, 4 reports of action programs of different national psychological associations in India, Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists, and regional associations Tamil Nadu Association of Clinical Psychologists and Chennai Counselors Forum are also included. CAPS also invited professionals and experts from different areas of specializations to write on their perspectives in relation to COVID-19 pandemic and 16 responded. Though diverse, one can find an ‘invisible blend’ of thoughts.
Some of the work executed by psychologists in India and their perspectives are made available in the public domain as a document of reference for the upcoming psychologists. I hope that this volume would help those who are researching psychological responses to COVID-19 to get a glimpse of the perspectives.
Leister Sam Sudheer Manickam
(L. S. S. Manickam)