9°c A few clouds
19°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Manitoba's shortage of psychologists affects mental health
There is no health without mental health, according to the World Health Organization. And yet access to the services of psychologists is difficult to obtain in our first-world nation, and specifically here in Manitoba.
The national average for the number of psychologists available per 100,000 people in Canada is 47.
Related Items
The number of psychologists available for the same number of people in Manitoba is 20. That is one psychologist for every 5,000 people.
This ratio reflects all of the psychologists (private and public sector) available in Manitoba. The majority of psychologists in Manitoba work in a private setting, and thus the actual number of psychologists available within the public health-care system is far more dismal than the startling ratio noted above.
Of course, funding is always a concern to a government when it comes to choosing which services to provide to the public. As a civilization, we should collectively put our financial resources towards the most pressing issues we face.
An antiquated thought might be that our physical health is more important than our mental. But long gone are the days and beliefs that would suggest our mental health is "just feelings."
We know for a fact there is a strong link between our mental health, our physical health, and the quality of our lives.
Recent research suggests that one in five Canadians is diagnosed with a mental illness. I assure you this is a conservative number as other studies would suggest higher numbers when looking at overall lifetime prevalence.
Even newer research suggests the impact mental illness has on disability is 1.5 times greater than that of all cancers and seven times that of all infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization predicts depression alone (only one of many mental illnesses) will become the second-leading cause of disability in the world, for all ages and both genders by 2020.
And yet, the number of psychologists available to the citizens of Manitoba more greatly reflects the resources of a developing nation, than a first-world country such as Canada. As a society, we are clearly not paying attention to an awakening giant.
It is due to this disparity in resources that the Manitoba Psychological Society is launching the Mind Your Mental Health Campaign (www.mymh.ca).
This website provides information on mental health and a link to our letter writing campaign to let the Manitoba government know that access to psychological services is critical for the health of Manitoba citizens, and that they would like increased access to these services in the public health care system. Let government know that psychological services are not a privilege, they are a right.
Rehman Abdulrehman has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is president of the Manitoba Psychological Society.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 13, 2013 A11
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Analysis
- Back to Top
- Return to Analysis
More Analysis
(1 of 32 articles for this week)
Physician networks a way forward for health care
05/21/2013 3:20 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Analysis
- Physician networks a way forward for health care
- 'Most hated man' in Senate
- Political opportunity knocks to abolish Senate
- This summer, check out health care elsewhere
- A decade after Mad Cow — the legacy of a crisis
- Harper embraces multilateralism on Arctic issues
- Can't lose when ends justify means
- Linking hospital quality to payment in Ontario
- Clothing sellers should unite on Bangladesh
- ‘Signs’ of hope, little more, in Greece
- The Angelina Jolie effect
- Angelina Jolie: 'I feel empowered... '
- What is Struthers afraid of?
- 'Most hated man' in Senate
- Cash for coitus scheme gets axed in Oz
- Ruining lives for cash flow
- Can't lose when ends justify means
- Harper fuels opposition to oilsands projects
- Physician networks a way forward for health care
- Never take candy from a stranger
- Don, it's not about nakedness
- Speeding fine only half of it
- Ashton might try to get the facts straight
- Ageism is rampant in Canada
- Canadian to expose alien collaboration with U.S.
- Smart people SLEEP LATE
- 'Done deal' offends Whiteshell cottagers
- What are they smoking at First Nations Bank?
- Celebrated economics theory wrong
- Manitoba could follow B.C. on surrogacy issue
- Ruining lives for cash flow
- What is Struthers afraid of?
- 'Genetic engineered' might save planet
- Angelina Jolie: 'I feel empowered... '
- Why we assume the worst
- Public debt management, the Alberta example
- 'Done deal' offends Whiteshell cottagers
- Kim Sigurdson It's time for government fish monger to cut bait
- Speeding fine only half of it
- How CBC and others torque ratings
- Ice roads, airships could work together
- Where is Canada's strategy to help Ukraine?
- Climate options -- grim, grimmer, grimmest
- Mother Nature springs into action
- Industry, First Nations partnerships exploding
- Ageism is rampant in Canada
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.