11TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON TRAUMATIC STRESS
“Trauma in Lives and Communities     - Victims, Violators, Prevention and Recovery”
European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
Dear colleagues and friends   Preparations for the 11th European Conference on Traumatic Stress (ECOTS) of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) in Oslo, Norway, are now in full swing. We are very proud to have the 11th ECOTS in Norway which has a strong tradition of being a world leader when it comes to research and service provision in the traumatic stress field. The conference will focus on trauma in lives and communities, covering victims, violators, prevention and recovery. We have been fortunate to attract a group of high quality keynote speakers and will be able to provide a programme that covers a wide range of topics and includes something for everybody with an interest in the traumatic stress field.   As with previous ECOTS conferences the 11th will offer the opportunity for likeminded individuals to share their experiences, ideas and the results of their work. The ESTSS is justifiably proud of the growth of the ECOTS since they started in 1988. The ECOTS have been instrumental in helping to establish a strong European trauma network for professionals in the field of psychotraumatology, and always attract a truly international audience. We are very pleased that the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies will be holding their mid year board meeting in Oslo at the same time as the conference and that many of their Board of Directors will present at the conference.   Those of you who have visited Oslo in the past already know that it is a beautiful city with much to offer. June is the perfect time to visit! We hope that you will encourage your friends and colleagues to attend and look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Oslo in June 2009.
Jonathan Bisson President of ESTSS
Dear participant to the 11th ECOTS!   The field of traumatic stress is in rapid expansion. There is an increasing recognition of the prevalence and severity of the trauma-related stress disorders and of the importance that psychological trauma has for mental and physical health, as well as for quality of life. The 11th ECOTS wants to ignite the interest of newcomers to the field.  For more experienced colleagues the 11th ECOTS will help develop and consolidate their knowledge of traumatic stress research, clinical practice and prevention across Europe and the world. All these topics will be comprehensively covered at the conference and are good reasons to come to Oslo in June 2009. The 11th ECOTS will be held in one location and provide excellent opportunities for professional and social network-building. Lunch being included in the conference fee will save time and money for you as well. The social programme includes a reception in the Oslo City Hall (well-known for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony). The banquet will include a visit to new Oslo Opera and Ballet House on the harbour which has attracted world attention for its exquisite architecture.   A visit to the Munch Museum is a must for psycho-traumatologists visiting Oslo since Edvard Munch, a founder of expressionism in art, can be seen as a pioneer in our field.   We hope to welcome you to Oslo in June 2009 for professional stimulation and to enjoy good company and the long Nordic summer days. The Norwegian professional community specialising in Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies is proud to host this conference.
Lars Weiseth      Inger Elise Birkeland Chair Scientific Committee  Chair Organizational Committee
Conference organizers and hosts
The 11th ECOTS is organized by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (www.estss.org). The conference hosts are The Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (www.nkvts.no) in collaboration with the Resource Centre for Violence, Traumatic Stress and Suicide Prevention - Eastern Norway and the Mental Health Association in Norway.