Criminal profiling, in the sense that we see it on TV, has less than a 50% success rate. As a tool of law enforcement, it is the equivalent of a coin flip. But seeing law enforcement use it successfully on television gives us, the viewers, a sense that these methods yield tremendous results in real life. And, maybe, makes us believe that we would be successful should we be given a similar task. Dr. Alexandra Zidenberg from the University of Montreal joins Mind Full to talk about a recent study she did with grad student Vivian Mullins in RMC’s Department of Military Psychology and Leadership. How much does binge-watching Criminal Minds enhance our ability to profile a suspect? Do true-crime podcasts (which usually deal with crimes that have been solved) skew our beliefs about the effectiveness of law enforcement?

Podcasts and Profiles

Now that the federal government has committed to a Fall budget, the CPA provide its views via a Brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. As part of its strategic alliances, the CPA has also contributed and shaped the Briefs of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH), the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR), and the Extended Healthcare Professionals Coalition (EHPC) that were also submitted. The CPA has also requested to appear as a witness to the Committee hearings.

The Council of Professional Associations of Psychology (CPAP), in collaboration with the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), is seeking input on a potential group benefits plan for psychologists.

We ask that you please complete the brief survey below which asks whether you’re interested in a group benefits plan and if so, the coverage and features you would like offered/implemented.

English – https://web2.cpa.ca/membersurveys/index.php/415456?lang=en

French – https://web2.cpa.ca/membersurveys/index.php/415456?lang=fr

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

The CPA has created new “Psychology Works” Fact Sheets on Young Kids and Screens and on Teens and Screens.

• Young Kids and Screens – PDF | HTML
• Teens and Screens – PDF | HTML

You can find all of our “Psychology Works” Fact Sheets here

The Canadian Psychological Association’s Scientific Affairs Committee (SAC) is currently recruiting new members. The SAC’s primary aim is to advance psychological science by working on matters of importance to the psychological research community, CPA members and affiliates, and groups of researchers. It is also responsible for the policies and practices of the CPA’s journals and other publications.

Yearly activities of SAC members include reviewing student research grant applications, providing input on CPA journal matters (e.g., publishing agreements, open-access wording, publishing standards), and reviewing special issue proposals for the journals. Additional activities will come up throughout the term. For more information on the SAC, or to read the SAC Terms of Reference, click here.

If you are interested in joining the important work of the SAC, please send a letter of intent and updated CV to Dr. Lauren Thompson, CPA’s Science Director at science@cpa.ca. In your letter of intent, please specify whether your research falls primarily within the mandate of SSHRC, NSERC, or CIHR.

It is with great pleasure that the CPA’s Board of Directors releases the CPA’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan.

The CPA’s Board wishes to thank all members, affiliates, and associates who took the time, whether as individuals or as part of a collective, to provide input as part of our open consultation and call for feedback. With the new Strategic Plan, we have refreshed the CPA’s Vision, Mission, and Strategic Priorities.  More…

• 2024-2025 Annual Report
• Key Highlights of the 2024 Audit Report

For more information, see the Annual General Meetings and Reports page.

On December 17th, 2024, the CPA’s Board of Directors approved the Psychological Tele-Assessment: Guidelines for Canadian Psychologists.

For more information, or to download a copy of the guidelines, click here. (PDF)

The CPA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 CPA Student Research Grants. These grants recognize exceptional student research in all areas of psychology. This year, grants were provided by the CPA, jointly by the CPA and CSBBCS, and by BMS Canada.

Congratulations to all!

The Student Section is the winner of the CPA Section Newsletter Award for their Fall 2024 newsletter (PDF).
version francais (PDF)

The CPA recognizes the efforts that the Sections put into creating and maintaining their newsletters. Section newsletters serve as an important communication tool to help keep members informed and involved in the Section and in CPA.

In January 2025, the Federal Minister of Health issued a letter of interpretation on the Canada Health Act that identified certain regulated professions (nurse practitioners, midwives and pharmacists) as providing “physician equivalent services” and should be publicly insured by the provinces and territories. However, psychology was specifically not recognized, see CPA’s response.

Knowing that a federal election is around the corner, the CPA recognizes the importance and need to continue to invest in our collective mental health; which brings with it a number of health, social and economic dividends that benefit individuals, families, communities and the country as a whole. With the objective of contributing to the country’s public policy-making when it comes to mental health, the CPA has developed a policy primer entitled The Federal Government & Mental Health Policy…Preparing for the Next Federal Election. The CPA has focused on a select number of policy issues where the federal government can play a strong leadership role: (1) improving and expanding publicly funded access to psychological services; (2) improving employer-based coverage for psychological services; (3) increasing the number of practicing clinical psychologists, and (4) increasing investment in psychological research.

The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) released it 3^rd annual mental health-substance use health report card. It is clear that there remains a gap between what the people of Canada expect from their governments and what they are delivering. More must be done to ensure people in need of support for their mental health and substance use health get the care they need, when they need it. See news release and survey.

The CPA has signed a statement published by the GPA, Democratic Systems and Psychological Science: A Collective Statement and Call to Action. The members of the GPA have recognized the profound impact of social and political determinants on mental health and call upon psychologists worldwide to advocate for the protection and promotion of democratic systems as a means to enhance health globally.