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