Erik Helmers (1938–1995)

Erik Helmers died suddenly in his home on 4 February 1995. It is a grievous loss. He was 56 years old. His all to early death will have an impact on his colleagues, friends, and patients, but first and foremost on his family, for years to come.

He was a very special man. Dependable, stable and meticulous. Whenever he undertook a task, one could always be totally confident that it would be carried out painstakingly and professionally.

After A-levels and classical studies, he embarked upon the study of psychology and took his degree in 1964. He worked for many years as a clinical psychologist at the Central Hospital in Fredrikstad and at Dikemark Hospital. After having concluded his psychoanalytic training at the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Institute, he entered private practice as a psychologist and psychoanalyst. For the next 25 years, he held many different positions in the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society. His capacity for work was enormous as was his contribution to the development and consolidation of psychoanalysis as a method of treatment, and as a profession, in Norway. For a number of years, he was President of the Society. However, the most onerous and time-consuming post he held was the 10 years in the Training Committee which he chaired for most of the time. He was also an active member of the Nordic Liaison Committee and maintained contact with leading psychoanalytic clinicians and researchers in Europe and the United States, also in that way enriching the psychoanalytic clinicians and researchers in Europe and the United States, also in that way enriching the psychoanalytic community in Norway. He was an eminent clinician with substantial clinical knowledge and experience, which was of great value, both for his work with candidates in training and supervision, and for his extensive teaching at the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Institute. His administrative experience