It is widely recognized that access to a psychologist in the public network is complex and often involves an obstacle course. Very often to the detriment of a vulnerable person and their loved ones who no longer have the energy to fight. These difficulties of access are due, among other things, to a constant decrease in the number of psychologists in the public network, and this, for more than a decade.
According to data from the Order of Psychologists of Quebec, there is currently a 26% decrease in the number of psychologists in the health network compared to 2010. However, mental health needs have exploded and the population of Quebec has increased. of approximately 1.3 million people during this period.
Not easy for mental health to carve out the place it should have in the public network.
Does this difficulty come from its character, which some perceive as abstract? There is indeed no blood test or X-ray to quantify the intensity of the suffering, but it is there and often described as one of the worst pains.
And then, these effects are felt everywhere: absenteeism from work which sometimes leads to lifelong disabilities and contributes to the labor shortage that we are experiencing, a sharp increase in suicide attempts among young people and visits to emergencies for mental health problems, to name a few examples.
Integrating mental health into our overall vision of the human being as well as into our care would do everyone a lot of good. However, changes in vision and “culture” take time. Some will even say “too much”, and with good reason. However, as with the people we treat, patience seems to be in order. Moreover, until now, it has paid off:
- Premier François Legault and Minister Lionel Carmant have publicly stated on several occasions that they were going to take action to resolve the shortage of psychologists in the public network;
- the Conseil du trésor has made differentiated offers for psychologists, although the latter’s union representatives have not made such a request. Many will rightly say that these offers are not high enough to solve the problems of attraction and retention. But it is still a first in the history of Quebec! Concrete action to stop the haemorrhage and the flight to the private sector;
- the vast majority of doctoral students in psychology (85%) want to work in the public network and they will come there if working conditions are improved;
- Three years ago, some journalists asked me what I meant by “psychologists in the public network”. Our very existence was ignored. For a long time, when my neighbors asked me what I did for work and I said that I was a psychologist in a hospital, I was asked: “Are there psychologists in hospitals? » In a few years, we went from « we don’t know you exist » to « we take concrete actions to keep psychologists in the network ».
Of course, there is still a long way to go. But there is a small light at the end of the tunnel. We know what to do. It remains to be done. The Coalition of Quebec Public Network Psychologists is ready to contribute to the achievement of this objective by providing its full cooperation to the government and to all those who have this cause at heart.