We are dedicated to ISEPP continuing on! The conference was cancelled because there wasn't enough interest in it and we had a cancellation deadline past which we would incur more of a cost if we went past that deadline but didn't get enough people in attendance. It looked pretty clear that we wouldn't and it wasn't a risk we were willing to take. The same thing happened last year. But for this year, there was so little interest that even a virtual conference like last year wasn't financially feasible. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors has been meeting over the past weeks to address this. We're not sure what factors have affected this drop in interest but we know it has been happening over the past few years along with difficulty in getting people to renew their memberships. Some think we've been trying to be bigger than we are, given that our resources are very limited (only from dues). Others think the Listserv tension negatively affected members to the point of quitting the organization. Still others think COVID effects are lingering and that caused a drop in interest of meeting in person for a large gathering. Yet, some think we've strayed from the original purpose of ISEPP, which was to specifically challenge mainstream views on mental disorder as an illness that affects people, rather than real world difficulties that people encounter but who are not ill in a literal sense, and this means mostly challenging the mainstream use the medical model. Some think we don't focus enough on informed consent issues. We (the Executive Committee) will be presenting a plan to the full Board of Directors in the coming weeks that contains a specific statement of purpose and clear principles that anyone joining us must endorse, as well as how we will make the organization more appealing and viable for those of us who challenge the mainstream.
We are dedicated to ISEPP continuing on! The conference was cancelled because there wasn't enough interest in it and we had a cancellation deadline past which we would incur more of a cost if we went past that deadline but didn't get enough people in attendance. It looked pretty clear that we wouldn't and it wasn't a risk we were willing to take. The same thing happened last year. But for this year, there was so little interest that even a virtual conference like last year wasn't financially feasible. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors has been meeting over the past weeks to address this. We're not sure what factors have affected this drop in interest but we know it has been happening over the past few years along with difficulty in getting people to renew their memberships. Some think we've been trying to be bigger than we are, given that our resources are very limited (only from dues). Others think the Listserv tension negatively affected members to the point of quitting the organization. Still others think COVID effects are lingering and that caused a drop in interest of meeting in person for a large gathering. Yet, some think we've strayed from the original purpose of ISEPP, which was to specifically challenge mainstream views on mental disorder as an illness that affects people, rather than real world difficulties that people encounter but who are not ill in a literal sense, and this means mostly challenging the mainstream use the medical model. Some think we don't focus enough on informed consent issues. We (the Executive Committee) will be presenting a plan to the full Board of Directors in the coming weeks that contains a specific statement of purpose and clear principles that anyone joining us must endorse, as well as how we will make the organization more appealing and viable for those of us who challenge the mainstream.
I am very concerned about the future of ISEPP. Is this the end of this group? Why was there a cancellation?
I echo Dr. Walker's comment. What is happening to ISEPP?
Greetings. This is so regrettable. A more detailed explanation would be helpful to members and other supporters. Thank you.