June 4, 2020
Posted by:
IEPA
By IEPA Board
Following the tragic death of George Floyd, the IEPA wants to make it clear to all members and supporters that we condemn racism and all forms discrimination and understand the negative impact this has on mental health and wellbeing.
Racism and all forms of discrimination are a plague to all nations across the globe. They have and will always undermine personal growth, stifle ambitions and destroy the morale of an individual and by doing so, inevitably damage the fabric of society.
If you belong to a minority group, we want you to know that you are not a minority in IEPA. IEPA is a global organisation and one that draws its strength and vision from all its members.
For all IEPA members and partners, for the clinicians, researchers, academics, journal editors, journal reviewers, service users and their families we encourage you to think about the mechanisms that keep racism and discrimination alive. Racism and discrimination are not a problem of the few, we all share responsibility for it. To end it each of us has to commit not to tolerate racism and discrimination in our daily life, in our work, our private life, our actions, our thoughts, and our words.
We leave you with the words of anti-racism activists Jane Elliott:
“if you as a White person would like to receive the same treatment that our Black citizens receive in this society, please stand. If you are not standing, it says very plainly that you know what is happening and you know you do not want it for you. I want to know why you are so willing to accept it or to allow it to happen for others”.
The IEPA Executive Group:
Kelly Allott
Chi Cheng
Young Chul Chung
Philippe Conus
Paul French
Nev Jones
Peter Jones
Eoin Killackey
Patrick McGorry
Andrea Raballo
Michio Suzuki
Lucia Valmaggia (President)
