The Psychology Department and the Center of Research & Applications of School Psychology, University  of    Athens, in cooperation with the School Psychology Division of the Hel-lenic Psychological Society,  organized  the 1st Panhellenic Conference of School Psychology. The Conference was held in the School  of Philosophy,  University of Athens on 19-22 November 2015. President of the Conference was Prof. C.  Hatzichristou,  Professor of School Psychology, University of Athens.

  There were more than 1.200 participants –school psycholo-gists & other mental health specialists, special   education teachers, faculty members of Greek Universities, teachers and school administrators of all    educational levels, under-graduate and graduate students, school students and par-ents. Topics presented  in  the Conference had to do with contemporary trends of School Psychology focusing on pre-vention  and interconnection of theory, research & best prac-tices in the school community. There were substantial  dis-cussions upon highly significant issues concerning the schools, students and parents, such as behavioral problems and learning difficulties, bullying, cultural diversity and dif-ferences, prevention & intervention programs, supporting school community members during economic recession, crisis management in the school setting, the multidimen-sional role of school psychologists, consultation and psycho-logical services in the school community, the multidimen-sional role of teachers, school-family collaboration, as well as interconnection of schools, community agencies and Universities.

Invited Speakers of the Conference were Professor Shane Jimerson from University of California, Santa Barbara («School psychologists as advocates: The confluence of sci-ence, practice, and policy») and Professor Stephen Brock from California State University, USA («Enhancing student success: Promoting mental health in the school setting») who focused on mental health promotion and the role of the School Psychologist within the school context. During the Opening Ceremony of the Conference, Associate Professor of Art M. Stefanidis, (University of Athens), gave an opening lecture entitled “The child as a Source of 3Expression in Art”. Within the context of the 1st Panhellenic School Psychology Conference, there were oral presentations allocated into 46 thematic sessions and posters. In addition, there were 4 round tables, 27 symposia and 4 workshops. Round tables dealt with various topics, such as School Psychology Training in Greece and abroad, the role of School Psychologists in different educational contexts, presentation of students’ and teachers’ experiences, view points and actions in the school setting.

Workshops dealt with the prevalence of the problem of sui-cide and the strategies for preventing and immediately re-sponding to suicidal thinking, bullying, learning difficulties and behavioral problems in the school community, as well as enhancing children’s and teenagers’ motivation for learning and improvement of school performance. Social events of the Conference included music events performed by stu-dents of the Pallini Music School and the Music Department, University of Athens. The students’ participation in the Con-ference was of vital importance. Remarkable was the crea-tive participation of students in the School Poster Competi-tion organized by the Conference with the title: “Our own school….” “What I like in my class. Why my school is im-portant to me”. This competition offered the opportunity to schools to expand students’ perspective and promote their primary role as a solid framework for students’ develop-ment, learning and support. Within the context of the Con-ference, awards and distinctions were conferred to schools that participated in the competition and were included in the Conference program.

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