UPDATE: A groundbreaking paper released today highlights the urgent need for greater diversity within the Canadian psychology profession. This call to action, titled “Opening the Gate: A Call for Inclusion and Representation of Peoples of Colour in Canadian Professional Psychology,” emphasizes the severe shortage of psychologists from racialized communities, impacting the mental health care of individuals seeking culturally competent support.
Every day, individuals from racialized backgrounds, including Black and Indigenous communities, struggle to find psychologists who understand their lived experiences. The paper’s senior author, Dr. S. C. Faber, shares her harrowing personal journey of searching for a Black psychologist in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, only to find none available. “Finding a therapist who gets it shouldn’t be this hard,” she stated, underscoring a crisis that demands immediate attention.
This issue is compounded by systemic barriers within the profession. The study reveals alarming statistics—out of 481 full-time faculty members, only two are Indigenous and just seven are Black. More than half of psychology departments have no Black faculty at all. This lack of representation is not just an academic concern; it directly affects public trust and the quality of mental health care available to diverse communities.
The paper calls for a fundamental shift in how the psychology profession collects and utilizes race-based demographic data. For years, the absence of such data has masked glaring inequities, making it impossible to implement real change. The authors argue that without clear, measurable diversity metrics, well-intentioned policies will continue to uphold the status quo.
As the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) has recently updated its accreditation standards, the authors warn that these changes lack accountability mechanisms. “Our goal is not simply to identify problems but to offer clear, actionable solutions,” Dr. Faber emphasizes. The paper proposes that the CPA should amend its by-laws to create designated voting board seats for representatives from Black, Asian, and Indigenous psychology sections, addressing the current 87.1% White composition of the board over the past 13 years.
The implications of this research extend beyond academia; they touch the very fabric of community health. Effective mental health care hinges on the ability to understand clients’ cultural backgrounds and the real-world impact of systemic racism. The health of our communities is at stake, and the call for action is urgent.
“The diversity of our profession is directly linked to public trust and the quality of mental health care,” Dr. Faber concludes. As this paper gains traction, it is crucial for stakeholders in the psychology field to engage with these findings and prioritize inclusivity, ensuring that all individuals have access to the mental health support they need.
As the conversation around diversity in psychology intensifies, it remains imperative to monitor the CPA’s response and the potential for real change in what has been a stagnant system. The time for action is now—communities across Canada are counting on it.
