Expansion to U of Manitoba's clinical psychology program must go further to address shortage, experts say

The University of Manitoba is expanding its clinical psychology program in an attempt to address one of the worst psychologist shortages in the country, but experts say more needs to be done. 

The university, which has the only graduate clinical psychology program in the province, received just over $400,000 from the Manitoba government in 2023 to increase the number of seats for clinical psychology students to 12 this fall, up from eight in 2023.

"We've already hired one faculty member … and going forward into the next year, we're hoping to hire two professors and one instructor," program director Kristin Reynolds, who is also a clinical psychologist, told CBC.

"So if we are able to meet our hiring for this year, we hope to go up to 16 spots." 

However, Manitoba has one of the lowest number of psychologists per capita out of all the provinces.

There were 280 psychologists in Manitoba, or about 20 for every 100,000 people in the province, according to data, which excluded Prince Edward Island, from the Canadian Institute for Health Information in 2021.

It's in stark contrast to Alberta, which has 4,348 psychologists, or 97.9 for every 100,000 people in the province. However, Alberta does not require a doctoral degree to become a licensed psychologist like Manitoba does.

Demand for the university's program, which launched in 1967, has been growing. More than 200 students applied to it this fall, which is more than double the number of applicants in 2023, Reynolds said.

While it's not clear why the demand has risen, it's likely a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Throughout the pandemic, there certainly has been more talk about mental health and a shortage of mental health professionals, so it could be just more and more people wanting to go into this important career that can touch so many lives."

"The more students we can train — the more we can expand — the better," said Reynolds.

"We're not aiming just to sort of replace psychologists who are retiring, but more to grow the psychological presence in Manitoba."

Clinical psychologists provide critical care, as they can assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of complex mental health disorders, cognitive developmental disorders and chronic physical health conditions, said Jo Ann Unger, advocacy director for the Manitoba Psychological Society, a non-profit organization of psychologists.

Unger, who is also a clinical psychologist, said the university's program needs to grow beyond 16 seats.

"There hasn't been an expansion in a while, and it is one of the steps that we need to take in order to address the low numbers of psychologists in Manitoba and improve that access," she told CBC.

"It's one piece and they can't stop just with the 12 and the 16 [seats]."

However, the university would need to find additional teachers to support those students through their residencies, she said.

"One of the issues that we're finding is with those vacancies within the public health system," she said. "What that means is that there's less people to supervise the trainees as they come up through the program."

Reynolds said another goal of the program expansion is to improve access to Indigenous people in Manitoba, who are underserved when it comes to clinical psychology services.

She envisions a workforce of clinical psychologists in Manitoba who can "relate to the issues in our system, including colonization and to provide accessible and relevant assessments and intervention."

Unger said the health-care system has not historically been a safe place for Indigenous people, and clinical psychology services need to make space for that group.

However, Manitobans of all backgrounds face untimely waits — some of up to two years — to see a clinical psychologist, she said.

Research has shown all health issues have a psychological component, she said.

"When medical teams and health teams have access to a psychologist, the care that can be provided to patients — not just for people with mental health issues, but people with physical health issues — is improved."