With services strained, public health psychologists consider leaving the sector, says association

Anxiety and depression have reached crisis levels in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to the provincial association of psychologists, which says a spike in demand for services has left many people without a therapist.

In a Februarysurvey, the Association of PsychologyNewfoundland Labrador collected data that suggestsdemand is on the rise, wait-lists are fulland many people can't get the help they need.

"It's unprecedented. While we're delighted that people are reaching out we've worked really hard on decreasing the stigma what we are finding is that services just aren't available," Dr. Janine Hubbard, president of APNL, told CBC News on Tuesday.

"As someone who has to turn away individuals, it's heartbreaking because we know they're in crisis, we know they're reaching out for help."

The situation is compounded by psychologists leaving the public health system, which is strainingprivate care as patients are funnelled into that sector, said Hubbard.There are currently 211 registered psychologists in Newfoundland and Labrador in public and private health.

The APNL survey suggests psychologists are leaving the public sector because of frustrations with the system. Just over 52 per cent of those working in public healthwho responded to the survey said they recently considered leaving their jobs.

When asked what it would take to change the minds ofthose considering leaving the public sector, the most common responses wereincreased respect, increased autonomy, better understanding of the role, educationand/or skills of psychologists, increased salary, increased opportunities to use psychology skills and increased financial support for education and training opportunities.

Thirty-one per cent said they're considering a full-time private practice, and 12 per cent said they're considering leaving the province entirely.

In some public-sector areas, such as education, health and post-secondary, there are vacancies of 30 to 50 per cent, Hubbard said.

"This isn't just related to COVID," she said."This has been going on for the past five, six years."

In a statement to CBC News, the Department of Health said clinical psychologist vacancies are concerning and challenges persist in regional health authoritiesacross the province.

The department said the health authorities are "directly responsible for the administration and delivery of health services" including responsibility for human resource management, staffing and recruitment andit's workingwith them on how to address the issues.

There are currently about 35 vacant positions in regional health authorities, the department said.

Consultation and retention

Hubbard said psychologists are feeling the same frustrations as other health providers, with things such as burnout, inability to practise to their full scope and structural changes being imposed without any input or consultation being concerns near the top of the list.

"We're actually well trained in things like program evaluation and program design. If changes are being made, we're just asking to include us at those early planning stages," Hubbard said.

"There's a real need to focus on retention issues for the mid-career and senior level psychologists."

The Health Department said it hasengaged psychologiststhroughout development of its provincial "stepped-care model" which aims to match individuals with the right level of care, at the right time under theTowards Recovery Action Plan. The department saidit has ensured psychologists' involvement throughout the entire development process with representation on the provincialstepped-care committee.

As for retention, the Health Department said an assistant deputy minister of health position for professional recruitment and retention has been created to help attracthealth-care professionals to the province.

"Recruitment and retention of psychologists and other health professionals are ongoing issues for many jurisdictions around the world. The situation here, in Newfoundland and Labrador, is no different," the statement reads.

"Clinical psychologists are considered an 'indemand'occupation under the Priority Skills N.L. initiative of the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.Internationally trained clinical psychologists were invited to complete an expression of interest and there has been limited interest to date."

The Department of Health said the provincial governmenthas also bumped bursaries to$20,000, available to students enrolled in psychology education programs who agree to complete a service commitment in one of the province's health regions. The department said it'sworking with regional health authorities to address competitiveness with the private sector as well as publicly employed psychologists in other jurisdictions.

CBC Newsasked each of the province's four regional health authorities for comment Tuesday. No comment had been received by publication.

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