The pandemic situation in which we have been immersed for almost two years has brought its share of challenges for many of us. The risks associated with the infection as well as the various measures put in place by the government have had significant effects on a daily basis. This context has transformed social interactions, causing isolation for many people. Others have seen their living conditions change radically. These factors have weakened the mental health of many people, which has resulted in service pressure on the health and social services system. […]
Last week, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Lionel Carmant, announced the new Interdepartmental Mental Health Action Plan which aims, among other things, to improve the accessibility of mental health services to all Population. During the press conference, he announced that he wanted to involve “everyone”, without however mentioning his intention to make use of the knowledge and expertise of social workers.
Moreover, when the subject of mental health services is broached in the media, psychologists are regularly mentioned without regard for the expertise of other mental health professionals. It seems important to recall the entry into force in 2012 of the Act to amend the Professional Code and other legislative provisions in the field of mental health and human relations (PL-21). This came to reserve professional activities for the members of eleven professional orders, to clarify the sharing of skills and to oversee the practice of psychotherapy. Since then, there seems to be a stranglehold by certain professions with regard to mental health intervention. This contributes to the underutilization and ignorance of the contribution of other professionals in Quebec, both public and private.
However, in the field of mental health, other professionals have the skills to support people both in times of crisis and in the longer term. Contrary to what is said in the public sphere, not all situations require psychotherapy. Some people need support, accompaniment, parental guidance, information, education, rehabilitation. Social workers are adequately trained for these services and have the skills to address anxiety management, relational and emotional difficulties, bereavement, adjustment difficulties, suicidal crises, etc. Through their specific perspective, they even tend to collectivize the difficulties by bringing a social rather than an individual perspective to mental health problems.
Public service teams are multidisciplinary. There are nurses, social workers, psychoeducators, specialized educators, social work technicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, criminologists, sexologists, psychiatrists, general practitioners. They generally work in interdisciplinarity, that is to say, each one puts forward his expertise by intervening in concert with his colleagues in order to support the person or the family, which undeniably enriches the interventions in the more complex situations.
Unfortunately, staff shortages and lack of resources make delays in accessing mental health services unacceptable. In this context, is the division and hierarchy between professionals really desirable? We believe that the time is rather to recognize the expertise and skills of each to open the offer of services in line with the needs of the population.
*Other signatories: Marina Trevisan, Josée Chénard, Josée Grenier and Bianca Büte, social workers; Marjolaine Goudreau, president of the Récifs