Number of psychologists per inhabitant | Never without my shrink

Why are there more psychologists in Quebec than elsewhere in Canada?

Of all of Canada, Quebec has the highest number of psychologists per 10,000 population. And yet, major shortages affect the public system – whose jobs are less well paid – and appointments are occasionally difficult to obtain in private practices. Is Quebec particularly fond of psychotherapies?

According to the Order of Psychologists of Quebec, Quebec has 9.9 psychologists per 10,000 inhabitants. Next comes Alberta, with 9 psychologists. Ontario is far behind, with 3 psychologists.

Casually, there are more psychologists here than in New York (6.8 per 10,000 inhabitants), where “even psychologists have psychologists”, claimed a character from Sex and the City.

However, Quebec is overtaken by the District of Columbia (Washington, what) with 14.1 psychologists per 10,000 inhabitants and, above all, by Argentina, which leads all countries in this regard according to the Organization global health.

Is there something in the soul of Quebec that explains people’s propensity to consult?

Martin Drapeau, clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at McGill University, notes that it must first be noted that despite these figures, we know nothing about what is happening in private practices.

How many days a week do they work? What is the severity of the disorders of their patients? What is the average duration of therapies in the private sector? We don’t know¹.

What we do know, on the other hand, he continues, referring to a Nanos poll, is that Quebeckers are actually trusting psychologists more and more.

In 2011, 27% of respondents said that of all healthcare professionals, psychiatrists were the most trusted with a mental health issue. But in 2020, psychologists stole the top spot, with 36% of respondents praising them.

To treat depression, psychologists also rank first in 2020 among the professionals in whom respondents have the most confidence.

A safety net mainly for wealthy people

Over the years, psychologists have become more and more of the “front line” in mental health, underlines Mr. Drapeau.

A first line for rich people, we note. “Yes, a person who has no insurance or money has to wait in the public sector or go to the doctor and get a prescription,” replies Martin Drapeau.

However, he insists on the fact that “a person in real distress will manage to be referred to the right place”.

In interview with The Press a few weeks ago, the D^D Claire Gamache, president of the Association of Psychiatric Physicians of Quebec, launched that the government would do well to correct its prevention messages which very widely invite Quebecers to turn to psychologists or psychiatrists. “There are plenty of other things to do in your life before going to see a shrink, such as eating properly, sleeping at night, playing sports, participating in discussion groups on the management of emotions. »

If by this we mean that there is a great need for prevention to give everyone the tools, the D^D Christine Grou, president of the Order of Psychologists, believes that this advice is relevant. On the other hand, a person who is experiencing serious difficulties or a crisis – “and no one is immune” – will need help.

According to psychologist Rose-Marie Charest, who was also president of the Order of Psychologists of Quebec, the number of psychologists in Quebec is secondary. What matters is that there are enough of them, which is not the case in the public sector, she stresses.

In her entire career, it has happened only very rarely that people come to consult her without needing to. “I said to myself much more often that if the person had gone to consult a year earlier, it would have been much easier. »

A quest for all-Quebec well-being?

Certainly, as indicated by the D^D Grou, the use of a psychologist is less and less stigmatizing in Quebec.

Rose-Marie Charest, for her part, advances the hypothesis that there is “something in our temperament, in our quest for happiness, for well-being” which explains why consulting “is closer to our mentality”.

Another possibility: the great visibility of psychologists in the media.

The training effect can also come into play. In a study published in 2020, researchers from the University of Ottawa found that people who knew loved ones who had sought treatment for mental health or addiction issues were more likely to seek help.

Can the social characteristics of Quebec explain the increasingly natural inclination towards shrinks?

Compared to the rest of Canada, it is here that we find the highest proportion of adults living alone (one in five).

Quebecers are also the champions of common-law unions and those who, of all Canadians, go the least to places of worship.

But it’s hard to say if someone who is single or who is divorced will experience more distress than someone who has been floundering in an unhappy marriage for a long time.

Everything is therefore only hypothesis, including faith. Rose-Marie Charest points out that, on the one hand, the community life that accompanies spirituality can be a source of comfort, but that certain religious beliefs (which can, for example, lead to guilt) can be heavy to bear.

Finally, M.^me Charest points out that while Quebec has many psychologists who can be consulted, the other Canadian provinces have a very large number of counselors school or marriage counsellors.

1. The figures sent to us at our request by the Ordre des Psychologues du Québec do not make it clear to what extent part-time work is widespread or not.