Why Alberta Needs Psychologists

February is National Psychology Month, and Alberta needs psychologists.  

By William E. Hanson, PhD, RPsych, PAA CEO

Psychology is rooted in science and touches every aspect of mental and physical health. The World Health Organization notes, “there is no health without mental health.” Our minds and bodies are deeply intertwined. Chronic stress or untreated depression can worsen physical conditions like heart disease or diabetes, just as managing psychological health and well-being improves outcomes in surgery, recovery, and long-term care. This year to celebrate Psychology Month, the Canadian Psychological Association’s theme is “This is Psychology!” It notes that psychology is everywhere. 

What Makes Psychologists Unique? 

Psychologists are highly trained, regulated professionals specializing in human behavior, assessment, treatment, and research. They hold doctoral and/or master’s degrees in psychology and complete thousands of hours of supervised and evaluated practice. “Psychologist” is a protected title requiring adherence to strict practice standards, competencies, and code of ethics. Psychologists perform psychological testing, formal mental health diagnoses, deliver empirically supported treatments, and conduct research and program evaluations. For example, psychological treatments for insomnia often outperform medications in the long run. Their scientific background and commitment to empirically based psychological processes and outcomes mean the public can trust in the competence and accountability of care. 

With respect to psychological assessment, the accurate, valid diagnosis of mental disorders is inherently complex, requiring nuanced judgment, rigorous methodological and measurement training, with sensitivity to context, culture, and human development. Mental health and mental illness do not exist as discrete, easily demarcated categories; rather, they unfold along continua of functioning and distress, a reality Herman Melville captured eloquently in Billy Budd when he asked, “Who in the rainbow can draw the line where the violet tint ends and the orange tint begins?” The same holds true for distinguishing normative psychological experiencing from clinically significant disorder, where overlapping symptoms, comorbidity, and situational influences can obscure clear boundaries. It is precisely this complexity that necessitates the expertise of a psychologist, whose training in psychometrics, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based practice supports careful interpretation beyond surface-level impressions.

Psychologists work collaboratively with other mental health professionals and recognize the value of psychiatrists, social workers, counsellors, and nurse practitioners, each of whom bring distinct expertise. What distinguishes psychologists is their depth of training in understanding the mind and behavior. They are, you might say, architects and engineers of the mind, body, and soul. Psychologists can be go-to experts in assessing psychological “vital signs,” like why you’re not sleeping, why your mood is low or anxiety high, or why anger or loneliness are overwhelming. If medication or social support is needed, psychologists can triage and refer you to a psychiatrist for prescriptions or a social worker for community resources. In this way, psychologists serve as the hub for mental healthcare. It’s a role that ensures people don’t fall through the cracks. As one Alberta initiative found, family physicians came to view integrated psychologists like any other medical specialist on the team, with clear scopes of practice and no “turf wars” between professions. In short, psychologists bring unique value alongside allied professionals. As the healthcare landscape shifts and changes in the province, Albertans need tuning forks, not pitchforks; professionals must work in harmony, side-by-side, to align health care priorities, rather than guarding territories.