IMPORTANT: The CPA is not recruiting or funding the recruitment of psychologists outside of Canada. Click here for more information.
IMPORTANT Register now for this year's Convention!
Registration is now open for CPA's 74th Annual Convention, which is being held in Québec City, Québec, June 13-15, 2013. Click here for details.
May 2013
NEW Consultation on Compensation for Psychological Injuries
Workplace stress is an important issue across the country. The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is consulting with Nova Scotians on compensation for psychological injuries. The consultation period is April 24 to May 24, 2013.
Although this consultation is specific to Nova Scotia, workplace stress and injuries are not; as such, individual researchers, practitioners, CPA Members, provincial association members/representatives can contribute something of value to this consultation.
The changes the WCB is proposing are intended to modernize Nova Scotia’s approach to compensating for reactions to workplace stress, and to bring Nova Scotia’s approach more in line with other Canadian jurisdictions.
For more information on the consultation and/or to provide your feedback on the proposed policy changes, by May 24, 2013, click here: http://www.wcb.ns.ca/wcbns/index_e.aspx?DetailID=1928
NEW One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in a given year.
The most common disorders experienced are depression and anxiety. Organized by the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC), the Defeat Depression Campaign is getting people to take action against depression and MOVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH. On Sunday May 26th, 2013, events will be held all across Canada to help defeat depression. You can walk, run, ride or take part in another activity in support of mental health. The campaign is about getting actively engaged against depression and fighting stigma. Funds raised will go to support the work of local organizations that support issues and needs related to mental health and mental disorders.
Please consider supporting the MDSC event by participating in a May 26th event in your area. For more information and to register go to defeatdepression.ca or click here.
NEW CPA Launches new Convention App
CPA is pleased to announce a new addition to our 74th Annual Convention; Introducing The CPA / SCP 2013 Convention App! Available for download from Google Play and Apple iTunes. Also available in web version! Visit www.cpa.ca/App for details.
NEWStanding Committee on Finance – proposed changes to the GST/HST
CPA letters to the Standing Committee on Finance highlighting our concerns about proposed changes to the application of the GST/HST as it affects the practice of psychology in Canada - April 29, 2013 and May 8, 2013.
NEW An Imperative for Change: Access to Psychological Services for Canada
Ottawa, May 2, 2013: To mark the one year anniversary of Canada’s first mental health strategy next week, the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) is releasing an independent report by a group of health economists. The report ‘An Imperative for Change’ states that the delivery of mental health services can be characterized as a silent crisis and provides a business case, and proposes models, for improved access to psychological services.
“One of the great challenges when it comes to caring for the mental health of Canadians is the significant barriers to accessing mental health services. Despite the fact that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in a given year, only one-third will receive the help they need. We have psychological treatments that work, and experts trained to deliver them. Yet the services of psychologists are not funded by provincial health insurance plans, which make them inaccessible to many with modest incomes or no insurance. Publically funded services, when available, are often in short supply and wait lists are long. The cost of mental illness in Canada is estimated at 51 billion dollars annually so we need to act now and be innovative in our approach,” said Dr. Jennifer Frain, President of the CPA.
“Last year we were very pleased that Canada’s national mental health strategy called for increased access to evidence-based psychotherapies by service providers qualified to deliver them. In response, we commissioned a report to look at how this can be achieved. The report proposes and costs out four models that could be implemented and adapted here,” said Dr. Karen Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of the CPA.
“Canada has fallen behind other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, the Netherlands, and Finland who have launched mental health initiatives which include covering the services of psychologists through public health systems. These initiatives are proving both cost and clinically effective. Analysis of research in the United Kingdom found that substantial returns on investments could be achieved in the early detection and treatment of common mental health conditions such as depression. These models respond to the recommendations of the mental health strategy. By implementing them, we can move from conversation to action,” added Dr. Cohen.
Models for Canada
- Adapt the United Kingdom’s publicly funded model for Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) in the provinces and territories. Under this program psychologists and low intensity therapists deliver care for people with the most common mental health problems: depression and anxiety.
- Integrate psychologists on primary care teams so that mental health problems are addressed at the right time, in the right place, by the right provider.
- Include psychologists on specialist care teams in secondary and tertiary care facilities for health and mental health conditions.
- Expand private insurance coverage and promote employer support for psychological services Canadian employers could expect to recover $6 to $7 billion annually with attention to prevention, early identification and treatment of mental health problems among their workforces.
Read “An Imperative for Change: Access to Psychological Services for Canada”, http://goo.gl/dlUjp.
April 2013
NEW CPA By-Law Changes 2013
As some of the membership may know, Canada brought into force a new Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act) in October of 2011. All not-for-profit corporations have until October of 2014 to transition to this new act – this transition requirement will of course affect CPA which is a registered not-for-profit corporation. The transition process requires that we replace the association’s letters patent with a Certificate and Articles of Continuance and create a set of by-laws that comply with the new Act. More information on new Act and transition to it can be found at http://goo.gl/JOjsB.
The CPA Board and senior officers worked with our legal counsel to develop the proposed by-laws presented below that will meet the requirements of the new Act. You will note that the proposed bylaws are more succinct than the current version. The content in the old by-laws will not be lost but will now form part of the Operating Regulations developed and approved by the CPA Board. The proposed new by-laws will be voted on by the membership at the Annual General Meeting to take place in Quebec City on June 14th during the 2013 Annual Convention. As per the requirements of our current by-laws, members must be given 30 days’ notice of a motion to repeal or amend any by-law or by-laws.
The 2013 Proposed By-Law Amendments: http://goo.gl/tQwC5
NEW Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk: A journey around Canada to grow the mental health conversation like never before
Bell today announced Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk, a national bicycle tour by Clara Hughes in support of mental health that begins in March 2014 and spans more than 100 days, 12,000 kilometres and every province and territory of Canada. The ride culminates on Canada Day, July 1 2014, in Ottawa.
Click here to read the press release in English. Click here to read the press release in French.
NEW Third Annual University of Toronto/OISE - IEN Mental Health Conference, Indigenizing Psychology Symposium: Integration of Teachings & Practice - May 30th, 2013
This full day symposium will cover issues related to Indigenous mental health and healing in the practice of psychology. It is for practitioners, researchers, and policy makers of all disciplines of applied mental health interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills, exchanging perspectives, and exploring new ideas. Click here for details.
NEW The Spring 2013 issue of Psynopsis Magazine is available online.
NEW Closure of Health Council erodes Federal leadership role in Health
OTTAWA, April 18, 2013 — The Health Action Lobby (HEAL) is very concerned by the federal government's recent decision to withdraw funding for the Health Council of Canada. Read the press release from Dr. Karen Cohen, Health Action Lobby (HEAL) Co-Chair, about the federal government's recent decision to withdraw funding for the Health Council of Canada. Click here for the release.
NEW Explosion during Boston Marathon: Resource on Violence, Stress and Coping (April 15, 2013):
The explosions that occurred during today's Boston Marathon (in Massachusetts), resulting in at least 2 dead and over 130 injured, challenges all of our communities to cope. The CPA has developed a resource that is intended to be of help and support in coping with tragedies of this type. Additional resources can also be found on CPA's Emergency Preparedness pages.
NEW CPA's Strategic Plan for 2013-2018
To ensure CPA is meeting its mission, objectives and responsibilities, CPA is guided by a strategic plan that sets out clear goals and strategies for 2013-2018. CPA's strategic plan is founded on a vision that the science and practice of psychology has broad and deep relevance to public policy and the public good. CPA’s intent is to realize this vision through all its principles, policies and activities. It is in its role as psychology’s national voice, that CPA as an organization helps ensure that the discipline and profession contribute to the health and well-being of Canadians. CPA’s strategic priorities target the activities that will help us hone this contribution. The impact of our contribution will be measured by the focus and success of our activities, organized to support education and training in psychology, the development and application of research, and the accessibility of psychological practice. Click here to view the 2013-2018 strategic plan.
NEW Summary 2013 Federal Budget highlights
Government maintains overall research funding at current levels; investments in mental health, Persons with Disabilities, and post-secondary education. Click here to read CPA's 2013 Federal Budget notes, prepared by Meagan Hatch, CPA Manager of Public Affairs and Communications.
NEW Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health invites you to attend the Champions of Mental Health Awards Gala.
Join us at the Gala Awards to celebrate individuals and organizations whose outstanding contributions have advanced the mental health agenda in Canada.
- May 6th, 2013 at the Chateau Laurier
Reception, 5:30pm, Laurier Room
Dinner & Awards , 7:00pm, Ballroom
To purchase tickets and tables, please contact Kalene DeBaeremaeker: 613-233-8906 (email: champions@miaw.ca). For more information on this event, visit camimh.ca.
SURVEY CLOSING SOON Survey: Practice Variables and Professional Satisfaction of Psychologists in Urban, Rural, Northern, and Remote Canada
Help us understand the nature of Canadian psychological practice. Drs. Karen Dyck (University of Manitoba), Judi Malone (University of Athabasca), and Cindy Hardy (University of Northern British Columbia) are engaged in a national survey exploring professional satisfaction and issues of recruitment and retention. We are looking for psychologists from across Canada and from every area of practice. If you are a licensed/registered psychologist, help us to increase our understanding of practice variables by participating in this online survey co-sponsored by the Canadian Psychological Association.
Survey link: http://web2.cpa.ca/membersurveys/index.php?sid=69648&lang=en
Movember Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the Movember Canada Mental Health Initiative Request for Applications
Movember Canada is proud to have committed 40% of net funds from Movember 2012 to support male health initiatives, with mental health the first priority. This is the first and most substantial announcement of funding opportunities for 2013. A second, smaller male health announcement will be communicated in the coming months. Click here to download the Request for Applications.
For more information about Movember please visit www.movember.com.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is actively seeking to fill four vacancies on its Board of Directors
Criteria for board members include demonstrated leadership in mental health in community organizations, government, health care organizations or academic environments. The Commission encourages applications from people with lived experience of a mental health problem or illness, and also wishes to broaden the Board's diversity in the following areas: geographic, francophone, women, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and ethno-racial communities.
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a current CV and letter of expression of interest to MHCCBoardRecruitment@mentalhealthcommission.ca by April 26, 2013.
March 2013
Important notice regarding the 2013 federal budget
The federal budget 2013 announced some changes to GST/HST which might affect psychologists providing service to the public. Click here for more information on these changes, and click here for more information on Practice Support in general.
Workplace Wellness and Mental Health 2013: June 18-19, 2013
The Canadian Psychological Association is pleased to be partnering with the Conference Board for this exciting event! As part of our partnership, we're able to offer our delegates a special rate to attend! Please see below for more information.
Save with our special Partner rate!
Don't miss this opportunity to meet the experts, raise the issues that affect you, and learn what you need to know to build a vision of mental health for your organization. Click here to register online and quote rebate code PRM4 to save $460 off of registration for this event! We also have special rates available for groups, not-for-profit organizations, health practitioners, and others. If you think you qualify for one of these lower rates, or would like more information on the program, please contact Joel Elliott at elliott@conferenceboard.ca before registering.
ALS Canada - Making Moments Matter
ALS Canada has initiated a program of providing psychological support to its clients, in collaboration with interested registered Psychologists, practicing in various locations throughout Ontario. Click here to download details.
The CPA applauds the Federal Government for revisiting its disability management initiative: Better approach to Mental Health needed.
Press Release (March 21, 2013) - Canadian Psychological Association applauds the Federal Government for revisiting its disability management initiative: Better approach to Mental Health needed The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) is pleased that the Federal government will be examining its disability management practices to get sick and injured workers back to work faster. CPA hopes that appropriate and necessary steps are taken to address mental health issues which now account for almost half of all disability claims made by employees of the Federal government. Click here to read the entire press release.
Survey: Practice Variables and Professional Satisfaction of Psychologists in Urban, Rural, Northern, and Remote Canada
Help us understand the nature of Canadian psychological practice. Drs. Karen Dyck (University of Manitoba), Judi Malone (University of Athabasca), and Cindy Hardy (University of Northern British Columbia) are engaged in a national survey exploring professional satisfaction and issues of recruitment and retention. We are looking for psychologists from across Canada and from every area of practice. If you are a licensed/registered psychologist, help us to increase our understanding of practice variables by participating in this online survey co-sponsored by the Canadian Psychological Association.
Survey link: http://web2.cpa.ca/membersurveys/index.php?sid=69648&lang=en
PsycALERT
You can sign up for an email alert that will notify you about the release of each issue of any of CPA's journals. The alert will detail the journal issue and will include a table of contents. Click here to sign-up today.
Spring 2013 CPA set to launch new Professional Development Course in Psychopharmacology!
Watch for the launch of CPA’s new Professional Development (PD) course, “A Psychologist’s Guide to Psychopharmacology”, through our new online multi-media learning partner, ScholarLab. This PD course includes modules covering various aspects of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, psychoactive substances, and psychotropic medications, all presented by leading experts in the field: Dr. David Nussbaum, Dr. Brian Bigelow, and Dr. Morgan Sammons.
While this course is not intended to train psychologists to prescribe, its intent is to deliver foundational education in psychopharmacology – a knowledge base that supports good practice in mental health. We also appreciate that many psychologists have not had the opportunity to receive formal training in this area, and so we have developed this course to help fill that gap.
CPA anticipates that this will be the first of more exciting and valuable PD courses to come. Please click on the link below to sign-up to receive priority notification of the official launch of this course, as well as future courses.
https://web.cpa.ca/signups/index.php?lang=EN
Participate in a CPA colleague's research study: Five new postings to the R2P2!
- Factors in Optimal Collaboration Between Psychologists and Primary Healthcare Physicians
- An Examination of Factors Affecting the Hiring Process
- Pain Perception and Pain Recall
- Influences on Perceptions of Information and Communication Technology in Therapeutic Practice
- Mental Health Professionals' Perceptions of Childhood Trauma Survivors
Click here for more information about the studies and criteria for participation.
2013 Schizophrenia Society of Canada National Conference
The Manitoba Schizophrenia Society will be hosting the 2013 Schizophrenia Society of Canada National Conference this coming September 9, 10, 11, 2013. With the theme of: “Being, Belonging, and Becoming: Social Inclusion in an Age of Diversity.” Dr. Mike Slade, from the UK, will present evidenced informed research on the evidence for recovery from/in mental illness: “Facts and Fiction About Recovery.” The conference website is now live! You can view it at: www.sscnationalconference2013.ca
Call for papers for a special issue of the Journal of Public Mental Health on "Mental Health and Human Rights"
The Journal of Public Mental Health announces a call for papers for a special issue on mental health and human rights, to be published in 2013. Accepted contributions include original research papers, systematic reviews, policy analyses and case studies. In 2012 the World Health Organization (WHO) Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse launched the QualityRights (QR) Project, which aims to improve the quality and human rights conditions in mental health and social care facilities and empower civil society organizations to advocate for the rights of people with mental and psychosocial disabilities.
JPMH are keen to attract papers from academics, practitioners and activists in resource-scarce countries. Papers for this special edition should be marked with 'QualityRights' in the title. The manuscript selection process will follow the journal peer review procedures. Submit articles here before 1 June 2013. Informal enquiries can be emailed here
IMPORTANT Please note that the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) is not currently recruiting or funding the recruitment of psychologists in any country outside of Canada. Any advertisements suggesting that the CPA is recruiting or funding the recruitment of psychologists from other countries to come work in Canada are false.
IMPORTANTE Favor notar que la asociación canadiense de psicología (CPA) no esta actualmente reclutando ni financiando el reclutamiento de psicólogos en países otros que el Canadá. Todo anuncio que sugiera que la CPA esta reclutando o financiando el reclutamiento de psicólogos de otros países para trabajar en Canadá es falso.
IMPORTANT Veuillez noter que la Société canadienne de psychologie (SCP) ne recrute ni ne subventionne aucun recrutement de psychologues à l'extérieure du Canada. Toute annonce mentionnant que la SCP recrute ou subventionne le recrutement de psychologues provenant de d'autres pays pour venir travailler au Canada est fausse.
February 2013
Call for Nominations for the Canadian National Committee for the International Union of Psychological Science (CNC/IUPsyS)
The CNC/IUPsyS is a CPA committee that enacts Canada's participation in the International Union of Psychological Science under a partnership agreement with the National Research Council of Canada. To ensure that the membership is representative of the diversity of psychological science, at-large members of the committee hold positions designated for psychologists whose research falls into one of three broad research domains: health science, neuro-bio-behavioural science, or social science.
For details, please click here.
The 3rd Canadian Obesity Summit
The 3rd Canadian Obesity Summit is presented by the Canadian Obesity Network - Réseau Canadien en Obésité (CON-RCO), the world's largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving how health systems, governments and the private sector can tackle the causes, complications, treatments and prevention approaches for obesity and its multiple co-morbidities.
Connect with 1,200 delegates including: physicians, clinical teams, researchers, industry leaders, and policy makers from federal, provincial, and territorial governments at Canada's only multidisciplinary scientific conference focusing solely on the prevention and management of obesity and its comorbities.
For more information, visit the website http://www.con-obesitysummit.ca/.
Canada's Best Diversity Employers
Exciting news! New Directions has been recognized as one of "Canada's Best Diversity Employers" as indicated in a special insert in today's Globe and Mail newspaper. Now entering its 6th year this award recognizes employers across Canada that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs.
Over 2,750 employers applied for the award and this was reduced to a short listed group of employers with noteworthy and interesting diversity initiatives. The finalists chosen represent the diversity leaders in their industry and region of Canada.
Click here to view the article.
Click here for information about New Directions.
CPA Board of Directors - Election 2013
There will be an election for the CPA Board of Directors running from February 11th, 2013 until March 11th, 2013. This year, nominations were required for:
- President-elect
- Directors-at-Large (3 positions)
- Scientist
- Scientist-Practitioner
The CPA Election 2013 Ballot Box is now open!
New issue of Psynopsis, Winter 2013.
Bell's $500,000 donation improves access to mental health therapy
Concordia's Applied Psychology Centre and Centre for Clinical Research in Health receive major gift from Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative to enhance treatment services.
Click here to read the press release.
Bell Let’s Talk Campaign
Bell’s Mental Health Initiative
In 2010 Bell announced that it would be contributing $50 million to mental health related initiatives over the next five years. The Bell Mental Health initiative supports an extensive range of programs to enhance mental health in every aspect of Canadian life.
The four pillars of this initiative are:
(1) workplace mental health
(2) research
(3) community care and access
(4) anti-stigma
Bell Let’s Talk Campaign
One of the key pillars of Bell’s Mental Health Initiative is anti-stigma. As part of Bell’s efforts to reduce the stigma of mental illness, the Bell Let’s Talk awareness campaign has already begun to engage Canadians in the dialogue around mental health.
Once again, with Olympian Clara Hughes front and centre, the third annual Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign will feature a national multi-media campaign that culminates on February 12, 2013. Joining Clara as spokespeople for Bell Let’s Talk Day and to help grow the dialogue on mental health this year are composer and performer Stefie Shock,actor-comedian Michel Mpambara and award-winning journalist Seamus O’Regan.
On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will contribute $.05 for every text message and long distance call sent by Bell and Bell Aliant customers to mental health related initiatives. In addition to phone and text, people will be encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health through social media and access information about the mental health community via the Bell Let’s Talk portal at www.bell.ca/letstalk.
Recognizing that simply talking makes a significant impact in breaking down the barriers to mental health, the campaign encourages people to “start the conversation” about mental health and engage in dialogue with friends, family and co-workers.
Psychology Speaks
CPA is inviting members and affiliates who are researchers and practitioners across Canada to submit a description of the work you do, up to a maximum of 400 words. More details available at Psychology Speaks.
Call for Nominations 2013 - Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize
The Jacobs Foundation invites you to nominate a candidate for the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize 2013. The Prize awards outstanding scientific contributions of individuals from all disciplines aiming at the improvement of young people’s development and perspectives worldwide. For more information, please visit the website.
Best Practices for Health Research Involving Children and Adolescents
Best Practices for Health Research Involving Children and Adolescents: Genetic, Pharmaceutical and Longitudinal Studies has been given final approval by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). The full document is now available online.