Toronto, October 01, 2025 (Globe Newswire) – Ontario’s mental health system is already under huge pressure, and the OPA psychological association (OPA) warns that a decrease in professional standards will only aggravate the situation. Recent CPBAO proposals are threatened to deprive educational standards and guarantees, flood the system with the help of clinicians under construction, and put on the public. Studies show that poorly trained suppliers are more likely to use unproven methods of treatment and practice outside their areas, a dangerous game when working with difficult conditions, such as depression, PTSD, autism or ADHD. Psychologists and psychological partners have an advanced training necessary for diagnosis, care on the basis of actual data, ethics and supervision to protect Ontarians and achieve effective results.
Since the needs for the mental health of youth mental health increase, and diagnostic presentations are becoming more complex, now is the time to strengthen the quality, and not dilute it. Reducing standards is not just a bad policy, it is a direct threat of public security. OPA appreciates every effort to promote an innovative strategy that strengthens both the quality and the availability of mental health protection services in Ontario. Nevertheless, the changes proposed by CPBAO sharply deviate from the national -recognized and respected high standards in Ontario and some other provincial jurisdictions. They significantly reduce the number of training hours for the master’s doctors, while reducing the guarantees, such as an integrated exam in ethics and exclusively eliminating the licensing examination exam, possibly the most important shaft before all registrations are completely licensed.
Why the Ontarians should worry about Government and CPBAO The adoption of one of the lowest standards of training and weakening or the exclusion of licensed exams in Ontario? As for complex problems with mental health, Ontarians need access to highly qualified psychologists and psychological partners who can accurately evaluate the presentation of symptoms, exclude other possible diagnoses and provide fundamental attention. This experience and advanced knowledge is what maximizes the chances of effective treatment results and protect the quality of mental health services that people rely on.
Psychologists play a decisive role in the Ontario mental health system, offering the treatment and diagnostic clarity based on actual data, which doctors, psychiatrists and even courts are entitled in difficult cases, such as neuropsychological, evaluative and judicial assessments. The exact diagnosis is important, and the cost of improper diagnosis is high for both people and the system. Although an increase in access to psychological services should remain a priority, simply expanding the number of practitioners, without providing sufficient risks for training, more incorrect diagnosis, greater public confusion regarding the qualification of suppliers, increase in costs by updating titles without substance and increasing claims for disability from the floods of beginner diagnostics. The right path is to expand access, while maintaining the standards of Ontarian medical care.
Any proposed regulatory reform for the profession should protect quality and arrange priorities in public protection, especially taking into account the growing needs for the mental health of Ontario. We need to balance this with advanced access. Ontario deserves the best when it comes to his mental health.
Any calls to reduce standards in this province in the name of access do not make sense.
“OPA welcomes an open dialogue about improving access to psychiatric assistance, but reducing professional standards is not an answer. Psychology has long been one of the most reliable professions of Ontario in the field of healthcare. The best way to move forward is to work together on solutions that expand the services, providing when protecting safety, quality and trust that expect and abandon the Ontarians and refuse. ”
Dr. Laura Nichols, President of OPA
Despite the recent vote of the College Council for changes intended to reduce standards, OPA will continue to advocate for the preservation of training and accreditation standards that will support the psychologists who know the public. We welcome the constructive dialogue with the college and the ministry.
On the psychological association Ontario
The psychological association of Opa (OPA) is a non -profit organization and a voluntary professional association representing psychology in Ontario. Its diverse membership, which includes clinicians, scientists, researchers and students, is engaged in the improvement of the mental health and well -being of the Ontarians. OPA provides leadership to promote mental health and well -being, inspiring superiority in the profession of psychology through research, education, clinical superiority and propaganda.
Contact:
Mr. Richard Morrison
General manager
[email protected]
416-961-5552
