The data is unequivocal: serious psychological difficulties are on the rise among young people in Quebec. Unfortunately, younger and younger children are affected. Among those aged 14 and under, there is a 28% increase in the use of antidepressants between 2019 and 2021. A particularly marked phenomenon among boys aged 9 and under, and girls aged 10 and over.
These children are prescribed antidepressants since they can no longer go to school, sleep, eat properly or even play. A part of their childhood is stolen from them and will not come back to them.
Too often, we welcome young people whose parents, teacher, social worker or doctor had requested the contribution of a psychologist long before the choice of antidepressants was necessary due to a major malfunction. But psychologists, unlike mental health issues, are becoming increasingly rare in our education and health networks. This leads to waiting times that are far too long. Thus, the fog thickens around the child and his family.
Shouldn’t we do everything as a society to be able to offer children an alternative treatment to antidepressants, that is to say psychotherapy? Even when antidepressants are prescribed, it is recommended to combine them with psychotherapy.
This is what Doctor Gilles Julien explained on February 11, 2022 (La Tribune): “We cannot take the side effects of antidepressants lightly. They should be prescribed following an extremely rigorous diagnosis, always in association with psychotherapy. In Quebec, 80% of professionals authorized to practice psychotherapy are psychologists.
Antidepressants do not allow the child and his family to learn to make sense of their inner worlds, to tame the fears that invade them, to tolerate distress, to live more peacefully with their traumas or their bereavements.
Little is known about the long-term effects of such medication on such a young brain and body. Some suggest potential risks in terms of growth, bone density or type II diabetes.
There are also many question marks in connection with a possible withdrawal from such medication started so young; not to mention the possible side effects. Far be it from us to throw a stone at the doctors who prescribe them: they often have no other options since there are fewer and fewer psychologists accessible quickly and free of charge in the public network. Moreover, psychologists are by far the most difficult to access professionals according to a recent survey by the College of Physicians.
The contrast between this troubling information and the solutions proposed by Minister Carmant is of great concern to us. His usual response to the effect he relies on interdisciplinarity to solve the problems of access to mental health services disregards the need to take action to attract and retain psychologists in our public network.
Of course, all professionals are essential, but why is Minister Carmant refusing to address the serious shortage affecting psychologists? Within two years, the Ministry of Health and Social Services estimates that there will be a shortage of more than 40% of psychologists in the health network since the latter mainly choose to work in the private sector.
We are often told about “the right service at the right time”. However, this concept is difficult to apply since it is often necessary to wait up to two years to access the services of a psychologist in the network. Too often, it is the most vulnerable children who pay the price.
Minister Carmant, it is urgent to act! We are waiting for a call from you to resume our discussions. Closing the door to solutions aimed at improving access to psychologists and neuropsychologists in the public network is unacceptable. The consequences on our children and on society are far too great.
Join us at our big rally for mental health on May 29 at 1 p.m. at Square Dorchester in Montreal (corner of Peel and René-Levesque) to demand better access to psychologists and neuropsychologists in the public network! Our ambassador, Florence K, will be present!
Dr. Karine Gauthier, M.Ps., Ph.D., Psychologist/Neuropsychologist, President of the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network
Co-signed by:
Dr. Catherine Serra Poirier, Psy.D, Ph.D., psychologist, liaison vice-president of the Coalition of psychologists of the Quebec public network
Dr. Jenilee-Sarah Napoleon, M.Sc., Ph.D., psychologist, administrator of the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network
Dr. Youssef Allami, Ph.D., psychologist, administrator of the Coalition of psychologists of the Quebec public network
Dr. Béatrice Filion, Psy,D, psychologist, Vice-president secretary of the Coalition of psychologists of the Quebec public network
Dr. Connie Scuccimarri, Ph.D. Psychologist, Administrator of the Coalition of Psychologists of the Quebec Public Network
Reference-www.tvanouvelles.ca