We are doctoral students in psychology who have chosen to invest in the public network. Today, however, we fear that our contribution in the public sector will be compromised since the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, dismissed the request of psychologists in the field to create a union of their own in order to curb the exodus. from these professionals to the private sector.
Network psychologists, overwhelmed and overloaded, will unfortunately have to suspend the supervision of doctoral student internships for the year 2023-2024. On the one hand, we are apprehending the consequences of this measure on our university career. On the other hand, we understand and support psychologists in their claims. Moreover, 95% of doctoral students support the formation of a union of psychologists (CPRPQ, 2022). Let’s listen to our psychologists so that we can do our internships and, above all, so that the population has access to their services!
Who are PhD students in psychology?
While some may confuse psychosocial professionals, training as a psychologist is unique and requires 7-10 years of college education, including a doctorate. Beyond theoretical courses, scientific publications and the writing of a thesis, 2300 hours of clinical internships are necessary. These internships are spread over two to four years, following which we can work as a doctoral student in psychology in the public network under the supervision of a psychologist in the field. However, this is becoming more and more difficult given the departure of psychologists to the private sector.
Doctoral students want to work in the public network
Although still under study, we already provide neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy services directly to the population, under supervision. Thus, it becomes clear that if we choose the public sector to carry out our internships and to work as doctoral students, we contribute to reducing the waiting list for mental health services, which currently stands at more than 21,000 people.
In addition, 85% of doctoral students want to work in the public network after graduation (CPRPQ, 2022). However, it is estimated that only 25% will do so, according to the report of the Interuniversity Federation of Doctoral Students in Psychology (FIDEP, 2020). The two main reasons are simple: the very disadvantageous salary conditions compared to the private sector and the limited professional autonomy.
These two elements also correspond to the problems that explain the exodus of psychologists to the private sector and to which the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network (CPRPQ) has been trying to find solutions for more than three years. The Ministry of Health and Social Services reveals that by 2024, more than 40% of psychologist positions will be vacant in the public health network.
Thus, for several years, the CPRPQ has led numerous discussions with Minister Carmant. The establishment of a union of psychologists quickly became the solution determined by the psychologists, a solution supported by 95% of them. This is the only way to avoid the extinction of the profession in the public domain. However, the creation of this union was unfortunately swept away by Minister Carmant. Faced with this closure and the worsening shortage of psychologists in the public network, the latter are exhausted and forced to choose, for the most part, the suspension of internship supervision in 2023-2024.
Mr. Carmant, we call on you
It is not surprising to note that the majority of doctoral students support this mobilization, even if several of them had planned to do their internship in 2023-2024. Don’t get us wrong: we are not happy about it, but we see the need for this suspension.
We would have preferred not to find ourselves in this situation, but we believe that it is the best way to perpetuate accessibility of the expertise of psychologists for the population. We urge Minister Carmant to reconsider the request for the creation of a union specific to psychologists. We fear for our internships, for the extinction of our profession in the public network and for the population, which needs our services more than ever.
Dear readers, if you are concerned about access to the services of psychologists in the public network, we invite you to join us for a march on Thursday, November 3, at 4:30 p.m., in front of the Palais des congrès de Montréal ( place Jean-Paul-Riopelle). Let’s stay in action!