Future psychologists: we want to work in the public network!

We are doctoral students in psychology. We chose this field of study because we want to help the most vulnerable people. While we’re in college, most of our friends are working, buying homes, and contributing to their RRSPs. We made the choice to do 10 years of university and we accept it.

We understand that several years of study are necessary to be able to do complex work which consists, among other things, in assessing and treating mental health disorders. To pay for our studies and limit our debts, many of us work in private practice, where the remuneration is significantly higher than that which would be offered to us in the public network. Our first choice at the end of these long studies would be to work in hospitals, CLSCs, family medicine groups, youth centers, schools and CEGEPs. However, due to the current working conditions, and out of spite, most of us will choose to work in the private sector. You wonder why?

Wage conditions

Have you ever seen the salary scale for psychologists in the public network in Quebec? It starts at $ 26 an hour. The pay differentials are major with multiple points of comparison: psychologists in the private sector earn almost 30% more than those in the public network, considering all social benefits such as retirement and vacation; psychologists in the Ontario public network earn $ 45,000 more per year than their Quebec colleagues; psychiatrists earn 300% more, while having training of similar duration; other healthcare professionals with a bachelor’s degree retire about 6 years earlier than their psychologist colleagues with $ 300,000 more in assets in their pockets; and teachers in Quebec will earn nearly $ 2,000 more per year than psychologists following the latest negotiations.

All these workers amply deserve their wages, that is not the question. But why are psychologists still forgotten?

Respect and recognition

You will understand that it is no longer even a question of money, but a question of respect and recognition. We even come to wonder if the extinction of the profession of psychologists in our public network is not desired by the government, to the detriment of the well-being of the population.

What could attract us to the network? Obtain a remuneration that reflects the fact that we start working around the age of 30 because of a compulsory doctorate and thus no longer be at a disadvantage compared to others. A mark of recognition that would clearly indicate the government’s desire to offer psychological services in the public network. Unfortunately, a revocable premium which is not considered in the calculation for our retirement, did not draw us into the network.

Parity with the private sector please

We cannot understand the government’s inaction and its reluctance to implement the solutions proposed by the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network. Especially in the current context where mental health issues affect our society more than ever, both human and economic. Unfortunately, it is the most vulnerable people and our partners in the public network (eg doctors, nurses) who suffer from this inaction. The solution is not limited to ensuring a pairing between doctoral students in psychology and positions available in the public network at the end of their internship, since 75% of new psychologists choose to practice in the private sector. Of the 25% who choose the public, more than 40% quit in their first 5 years of practice, mainly due to insufficient salary conditions. The solution must imperatively include a significant salary catch-up. Parity with the private sector is a minimum.

We want to work in the public network, to help improve the psychological well-being of the most suffering people, to work in a multidisciplinary team, to help free family doctors and relieve emergency rooms. We are waiting for a signal from the government, a fair salary recognition. And then, we will be present and happy to be!

Jenilee-Sarah Napoleon PhD candidate in psychology, McGill University

* 135 doctoral students in psychology have signed this letter:

Full name University

Anne-Véronique Bouthillier University of Quebec in Montreal

Rebecca Levesque-G. University of Quebec in Montreal

Maude Rodrigue Laval University

Olivia Kuzyk Concordia University

Catherine Gourlay University of Quebec in Montreal

Kim Isabelle-Nolet University of Quebec in Outaouais

Gabriel Demers Laval University

Véronique Martin University of Quebec in Montreal

Sandra Lafortune University of Montreal

Tommy Collin-Vallée University of Quebec in Montreal

Kim Desrosiers University of Sherbrooke

Julie Macherez University of Quebec in Montreal

Hannah Mulet-Perreault Laval University

Matthieu Lauzon University of Quebec in Montreal

Lizanne Lagarde University of Quebec in Montreal

Karol-Ann Couture University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Audrey Murray University of Quebec in Montreal

Catherine Archambault McGill University

Francis Mori University of Quebec in Outaouais

Karl Larouche Laval University

Julie-Anne Guertin University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières

Anne Sophie Grenier Laval University

Teodora Vigu University of Quebec in Outaouais

Elyse Porter-Vignola University of Quebec in Montreal

Pascale Viau University of Quebec in Outaouais

Stéphanie Monet University of Sherbrooke

Yannick Brault University of Montreal

Catherine Prévost University of Quebec in Montreal

Émélie Lavoie Laval University

Nesma Etoubashi McGill University

Beaudoin, Marie-Joëlle University of Quebec in Montreal

Jean-François G. Morin University of Montreal

Catherine St-Pierre Laval University

Ida Foster McGill University

Julie Dame University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Charlotte Rimmer McGill University

André Morin Laval University

Jane Aubertin University of Sherbrooke

Bianca Panarello Concordia University

Rachel Michaud McGill University

Pauline Archambault University of Sherbrooke

Mélanie Di Mambro University of Quebec in Montreal

Lhuissier Marie University of Quebec in Montreal

Béatrice Côté University of Sherbrooke

Zéna Nassar University of Sherbrooke

Valérie Parr University of Sherbrooke

Lorie-Anne Jeffrey University of Sherbrooke

Sandrine Simard University of Sherbrooke

Frédérique Tremblay-Légaré University of Quebec in Montreal

Anne-Sophie Dorion University of Sherbrooke

Stéphanie Juneau University of Quebec in Montreal

Isabelle Houvenaghel University of Sherbrooke

Carlos Sanchez-Meza University of Quebec in Montreal

Anaïs Lépine Lopez University of Quebec in Montreal

Ariane Therrien Laval University

Gabrielle Lelièvre University of Sherbrooke

Gregory Girard Laval University

Justine Massé University of Montreal

Laurence Caron Laval University

Claudelle Stephanie Tetrault

Beaudoin University of Quebec in Montreal

Mikael Demers Verreault Laval University

Amy Burningham University of Quebec in Montreal

Laurie Côté Laval University

Audrey-Maude Tremblay University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Karine Généreux University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Noémie Viens University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Frédérique Deslauriers University of Quebec in Montreal

Florence Filion Laval University

Elizabeth Poulin Laval University

Laurence Labelle University of Montreal

Eugénie Chevrette Laval University

Elliot Gagner Laval University

Alessa Luis-Lavertue Laval University

Éliane Demers University of Montreal

Emilie Dumont University of Quebec in Montreal

Marianne Laprise Falardeau Laval University

Lidia Légaré Bergeron Laval University

Camille Brochu-Hamel Laval University

Joanie Bérubé University of Montreal

Marie Dallaire Laval University

Frederick Morasse University of Montreal

Marie-Eve Cloutier University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Frederic Theriault Couture Laval University

Lancelot Legendre-Courville University of Montreal

Stéphanie Desnoyers University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Marianne Bouchard University of Montreal

Anne-Hélène Harrisson Laval University

Lisa-Marie Beaupré University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Karine Bisaillon University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Phénix Lamothe University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Joanie Martineau-Gagné University of Montreal

Elisabeth Loranger University of Montreal

Maude Massé-Pfister University of Montreal

Alisson Lévesque Laval University

Camille Cote-Thibeault Laval University

Jessica Lalande University of Sherbrooke

Lyane Kunicek University of Quebec in Montreal

Thalie Flores-Tremblay Laval University

Laurie Galardo University of Montreal

Élodie Marois Laval University

Charles Desmeules Laval University

Casandra Roy Gelencser University of Quebec in Montreal

Despina Artenie University of Quebec in Montreal

Frédérique Bolduc University of Montreal

Andréanne Bourdeau University of Sherbrooke

Camille Bourdeau University of Montreal

Kim Mayrand Laval University

Maude Richard-Pouliot University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Amélie Roberge University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Lysiane Lavoie University of Quebec in Montreal

Khadidja Chougui University of Montreal

Élie Côté University of Montreal

Andréanne Sheehy University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières

Catherine Fortier University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Sarah-Maude Jean Laval University

Frédérique Therrien Laval University

Valexie Lafontaine University of Montreal

Laurence Giasson Laval University

Mélina Morin University of Sherbrooke

Julie Potvin University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Linda Ouzerourou Laval University

Lian Boulet University of Quebec in Montreal

Jimmy Ghaziri University of Quebec in Montreal

Maria Kanter University of Quebec in Montreal

Rachel Guertin University of Sherbrooke

Johanny Imbeault University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Amelie Levesque University of Montreal

Daphné Harvey Laval University

Sandrine Jaumard University of Sherbrooke

Abygaëlle Côté Laval University

Guyane Lessard Laval University

Carole Nlend Laval University

Karina nadeau

Vanessa Weva Laval University McGill University