In addition to advocating on specific issues related to the science, education and practice of psychology (see section on “Advocacy”), the CPA also works in strategic partnership with a number of (national) health organizations who share a common purpose that aligns with the national perspective of psychology. They are as follows (in alphabetical order):
- Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH)
- Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century (CCPH21C)
- Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR)
- Council of Professional Associations of Psychologists (CPAP)
- Extended Healthcare Professionals Coalition (EHPC) – no website
- Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
- Organizations for Health Action (HEAL)
- Promoting Relationships & Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet)
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
- Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC)
- Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)
Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH)
Established in 1998, the CPA is a founding member of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH). CAMIMH is a non-profit organization comprised of 13 member organizations who represent health care providers and persons with lived and living experience.
CAMIMH is a volunteer-based organization that provides mental health education to the public and policy recommendations/advocacy to the federal government. A fundamental objective of CAMIMH is to engage Canadians and the federal government in a national conversation about (addressing) mental illness. By continuing this conversation, CAMIMH hopes to: reduce the stigma associated with mental illness; provide insight into the services and supports available to those living with mental illness, and advocate for additional investments for mental health services and supports by the federal (and provincial and territorial) governments.
Each year, CAMIMH undertakes two major initiatives: (1) Faces of Mental Illness is a national education campaign that kicks-off Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) and recognizes Canadians who are living with mental illness. As part of this event, CAMIMH holds a Lobby Day by meeting with Members of Parliament and Senators to advocate for federal government investments in mental health; and (2) Champions of Mental Health Awards and Gala is an opportunity to recognize those individuals and organizations that have made a significant difference in the lives of those living with mental illness.
Dr. Karen Cohen (CPA CEO) is a past Co-Chair of CAMIMH, and past-Chair of the Faces of Mental Illness event. Glenn Brimacombe (CPA Director, Policy and Public Affairs) is the Chair of CAMIMH’s Public Affairs Committee.
Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century (CCPH21)
Formed in 2003, the CPA is a founding member of the Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century (CCPH21), which is a national network of 21 non-profit organizations, professional associations, health charities and research organizations that share the common goal to improve and sustain the health of Canadians.
CCPH21 advocates for: (1) public policy to ensure that adequate public health functions are in place and information is made available to protect and promote health, and prevent disease and injury; and (2) to help all stakeholders work together for the future of public health by generating ideas and potential policy directions for discussion among both the public and decision-makers.
Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker (CPA Deputy CEO) continues to represent the CPA to ensure that mental health is given a voice on the public health agenda.
Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR)
Established in 1976, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is comprised of 20 organizations that represent researchers across a broad cross section of disciplines. Representing an estimated 50,000 researchers and 650,000 students, CCR is the largest national strategic alliance that advocates for additional funding for research in all sectors and enhanced support for post-secondary education.
CCR meets regularly with all major federal research funding agencies (Canadian Institutes of Health Research [CIHR], National Sciences and Engineering Research Council [NSERC], Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council [SSHRC], Canada Foundation for Innovation [CFI], and Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems [MITACS]) to discuss issues of shared interest. CCR also submits a Brief as part of the federal government’s annual pre-budget consultation process.
Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker (CPA Deputy CEO) has been the chair of CCR since 2013.
Canadian Council of Professional Associations of Psychologists (CPAP)
The CPA is a member of the Council of Professional Association of Psychologists is comprised of 13 national, provincial and territorial psychology associations, and has four objectives: facilitating knowledge exchange amongst member associations; identify and share best practices amongst member associations; advocating for the needs of Canadian psychologists and the people that they support; and develop leadership potential and capacity in Canadian psychologists.
Dr. Shelley Goodwin (CPA Board member) and Dr. Karen Cohen (CPA CEO) represent CPA. Dr. Goodwin holds CPA’s voting seat on CPAP.
Extended Healthcare Professionals Coalition (EHPC)
Dr. Karen Cohen (CPA CEO) represents CPA, and currently serves as vice-Chair, on the Extended Healthcare Providers Coalition (EHPC) which represents eleven health provider associations whose services are often or largely provided in the private sector without public system coverage. Its work is largely focused on healthcare services in the private sector and has a subgroup working on issues of common interest between private sector health providers and the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA).
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
The CPA works in partnership with the MHCC on a number of strategic initiatives:
- E-Mental Health: Cohen (CPA CEO) represents CPA on the MHCC’s e-mental health advisory committee. MHCC’s e-mental health work aims to identifying and sharing best practices, engage in strategic partnerships, advance research, address knowledge gaps and invest in proven innovations.
- Psychotherapy Policy Implementation Network (PPIN): Cohen (CPA CEO) represents CPA as co-chair of the MHCC’s Psychotherapy Policy Implementation Network (PPIN). The PPIN aims to increase access to psychotherapies in the Canadian healthcare system. Glenn Brimacombe (CPA Director, Policy & Public Affairs) is a member of a PPIN working group charged with developing funding models for enhanced access.
- National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention (NCSP: Lisa Votta-Bleeker (CPA Deputy CEO) represents the CPA on the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC) National Collaborative for Suicide Prevention, as a member of the Suicide Data and Research Working Group. Its work is focused on three main areas: national suicide prevention strategy; common messaging; and data and research.
Organizations for Health Action (HEAL)
Formed in 1991, the CPA is a founding member of the Health Action Lobby (HEAL) – now called Organizations for Health Action, which is a coalition of 40 national health organizations dedicated to improving the health of Canadians and the quality of care they receive.
Members are professional associations of regulated health care providers and organizations of health charities that provide a range of health care services across Canada. HEAL represents more than 650,000 providers (and consumers) of health care in over 20 different health care professions and is uniquely positioned to champion national issues and innovations that shape and reshape health care at the national level. A key focus for HEAL is the promotion of sustainable solutions and health system transformations for lasting on the health and well-being of Canadians.
HEAL is in regular contact with Federal Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators and senior government officials to discuss the role of the federal government in health and health care (e.g., COVID-19, mental health, national universal pharmacare, and seniors).
Dr. Karen Cohen (CPA CEO) sits on the Management Committee of HEAL and its COVID committee – of which its chief function to advise the Minister of Health on the COVID-related views and needs of Canada’s health care providers.
Dr. Cohen and Glenn Brimacombe (CPA Director, Policy & Public Affairs) are past Co-Chairs of HEAL.
Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet)
The Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet) is a national network of Canadian researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments committed to stop bullying. The primary goal of PREVNet is to translate and exchange knowledge about bullying to enhance awareness, to provide assessment and intervention tools, and to promote policy related to the problems of bullying. The mission of PREVNet is to develop a national strategy to reduce problems of bullying and victimization throughout Canada.
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
CPA is a member of the National Research Advisory Committee on Suicide and its Prevention which represents: researchers conducting suicide-related research; national organizations working in suicide prevention; professional organizations implicated in suicide prevention; individuals bereaved by suicide loss; and individuals with lived experience of a suicide attempt. The Advisory Committee builds a shared agenda for research and knowledge translation on suicide and its prevention. Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker (CPA Deputy CEO) represents CPA.
Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC)
The CPA became a Charter Member of the Science Media Centre of Canada (SMCC) in 2011. With this Charter Membership, CPA has an opportunity to let SMCC know about developments in psychological science with which to inform media and the public.
The SMCC is an independent, not-for-profit organization that exists to raise the level of public discourse on science in Canada by helping journalists access the experts and evidence-based research they need to cover science in the news. Glenn Brimacombe (CPA Director, Policy & Public Affairs) is a past-Chair of the SMCC.
Solutions for Kids in Pain (SKIP)
Solutions for Kids in Pain is a national knowledge mobilization network to improve pain management for children. CPA is a member and is represented by Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker (CPA Deputy CEO).