ISCoS Psychosocial Special Interest Group Virtual Meeting  2020

The Psychosocial Special Interest Group held its annual meeting on September 3, 2020. Several issues were on the agenda. Denise Tate updated the group on the work being done on the Psychosocial Data Set. The possible domains discussed focused on mood, cognitive functioning, quality of life, positive well-being, appraisals, suicidality and substance use.  The group was also updated on the progress being made with the WHO Development Group on Spinal Cord Injury. Several members of the Psychosocial SIG have been working with this WHO panel to insure that psychological issues are addressed in the package of interventions for rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury. We also used this time to discuss how covid-19 has impacted our work as psychosocial clinicians. Most SIG members feel that telehealth has been an effective way to provide clinical services during this pandemic. Telehealth also presented some advantages such as accessibility, lack of need for transportation, and convenience for patients and care givers. Finally, the SIG is committed to having a psychosocial pre-conference workshop next year in Vancouver. Various topics were discussed and some initial plans put into place.