COVID 19
Events Around the World that Matter to You
PAA is here to support all Albertans.
We realize that events happening around the world affect us here in Alberta – sometimes directly. This page provides resources and support for PAA members, psychologists in Alberta, and all Albertans regarding the COVID 19 pandemic.
If you need more support: try our referral service to find a psychologist near you or contact your local support line (some numbers can be found under the more support tab).
Taking Leadership during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Alberta psychologists have an opportunity to take leadership during this time. PAA has resources to support you.
- Registered Nurses: Psychological Coping During a Pandemic
- Download fact sheet
- NEW: Resources for Psychologists to navigate changing health care restrictions
- Registered Health Professionals Vaccination Info
- Healthcare Professionals Insurance Alliance
- CPA Results for Canadian National Survey – access to psychological services
- Provincial survey to evaluate the impact of the Pandemic on Albertans’ ability to access mental health care
- Canada’s Economic Response Plan
- The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health (CADTH)
- ‘one-stop-shop’ for COVID-related evidence
- CMHA Alberta
- EMOttawa
- Role model use of facts only and anxiety strategies in relation to public concerns
- PAA member & Psymposium columnist, Gwen Randall-Young, shares a free 25-minute hypnosis recording “Releasing Stress”
- The Canadian Pain Task Force and the Government of Canada
- Download the list of resources for people living with pain
- Alberta’s PolicyWise
- Alberta Government & Alberta Health
- COVID-19 coronavirus info for Albertans
- Includes current situation & current risk, cases & testing, preparation & prevention, Chief Medical Officer updates, resources, and news
- Wellness Together Canada
- Tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track – here
- Caregiver Considerations around COVID-19 – “How can I support my child in this stressful time?”
- Text4Hope
- Psychology Works Fact Sheet: Coping with and Preventing COVID-19
- Working from home during COVID, with and without Children
- Australian Psychological Society
- Maintaining your mental health during COVID-19 – download
- British Psychological Society
- Talking to Children about COVID-19 – download
- UCL (Traumatic Stress Clinic)
- Advice for hospital staff during COVID-19 – download 1 and download 2
- Guide to living with worry & anxiety amidst global uncertainty – download
- World Health Organization (WHO) resources
- Global Clinical Practice Network – resources
- Full report: WHO COVID-19 Coronavirus Event Planning Guide
- Keeping kids psychologically healthy in the summer
- NEW: PAA’s Pandemic Survey Report
- CAP offers guidelines for psychological practice during and post the pandemic
- View a draft of the practice guidelines here
- Financial Assistance for Businesses
- Provincial and Federal help for businesses here
- Apply to be a part of PAA’s Disaster Response Network (DRN) and offer pro-bono telepsychology services
- Build Psychological Health in the wake of COVID-19
- College of Alberta Psychologists
- A message from PAA CEO and PAA Board President on the importance of self-care for psychologists during this time
- Beck Institute
- Free webinar for medical providers Download here
- The British Psychological Society
- Quickly Evolving Related Research Publications
- Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet, 395(10227), 912–920. https://0-doi-org.aupac.lib.athabascau.ca/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8
- Hull Services presents: Building Resilient Communities in the Midst of COVID-19
In-Person Practice
- APA guidance about resuming in-person psychological services
- APA, sample informed consent for in-person services during COVID – it can be modified for your practice and to use your letterhead
- In-Person Psychology Service Delivery Checklist
- Certified & accredited training (American – do cross reference with Canadian data like the PAA Technology Taskforce Report)
- The PAA Technology Taskforce Report
- Reference list for telephone services with older clients
- APA Informed Consent Checklist for Telepsychology Services
- Ontario Psychological Association Resources
- NIHB Call for Professionals to provide services via Telehealth
- “How to make the most of telepsychology and steer clear of pitfalls” – APA article
- Example letter to clients
- A Psychologists’ Toolkit to offering Telepsychology – British Columbia Psychological Association
- American Professional Agency – Professional Coverage for Psychologists
- Psychology Association of Saskatchewan – review of telehealth platforms
- American Psychological Association
SunLife Insurance
- Virtual Care Services
- Extended coverage to include virtual services delivered by psychologists – for more, visit the webpage
BMS Insurance
- Workplace Safety and Rights of Health Professionals to Refuse Work
- BMS Insurance Coverage Position Statement
- COVID-19: Virtual Health Care Services – Ensuring Continuity of Care
- Crisis Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Telus eClaims
- eClaims can now be used for virtual services – more information can be found here
- Submitting Claims for Virtual Services with eClaims
Examples of Access Advocacy in relation to Extended Health Insurance Providers
Canadian Psychological Association
- Daily audio updates – the most recent one on trauma
- Fact sheets – teens, health providers, student wellness
- Webinar on health provider wellness
- Webinar on health leaders and managing COVID
- Psychological Practice and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Psychological Impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- News posts, fact sheets, Resource Links, & Member Messages – visit the webpage
Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards
- Licensure Related Matters & COVID-19 – visit the webpage
- PAA thanks Réseau Santé Albertain for this translation!
- FRENCH – Psychological Coping – Pandemic
American Psychological Association (APA) resources
- APA summary of key psychological science in relation to pandemics
- Resources for Practitioners – here
- Summary points from APA’s report (link to the full report below):
- Explore telepsychology options
- Review your malpractice insurance policy
- Develop a patient communication plan
- Implement a plan for group practices
- Promote hygiene in your practice
- Help manage patient & community anxiety
- Make self-care a priority
- COVID-19 & Psychology Services: How to Protect Your Patients & Your Practice
- COVID-19 Fact Sheet
- Teleneuropsychology: New resources for your practice
- Ethical advice for practitioners during COVID-19
- Connecting with children and adolescents via telehealth
- Guidance on psychological tele-assessment
Professional Convention Management Association resources
In response to an increasing need for additional cultural supports to patients, health facilities, staff and community members, a new toll-free phone line that can be utilized by all Alberta zones.
An indigenous Health Coordinator, will be available to answer incoming calls for requests such as prayer, one-on-one talking/listening/emotional support, Cree translation and connection to resources.
Hours of operation are: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
*Please note this service is not available on Wednesdays.
Toll free number is: 1-855-735-6766
Together all
An online, peer-to-peer mental health support network that empowers all Albertans aged 16+ 24/7. https://togetherall.com/en-ca/
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AHS Mental Health Helpline – 24/7, toll free: 1-877-303-2642
AHS Toll free Crisis Line/Distress Centres – for 780 area code: 1-800-482-4357; for 403 area code: 1-800-784-2433
More Alberta Health Services helpline numbers here
Kids Help Phone Crisis Line: 1-800-668-6868
Salvation Army Crisis Line: 780-429-0230
Indigenous Health Cultural Support Line:
1-855-735-6766
CMHA Distress line – 24/7: 780-482-4357
CMHA Rural Distress Line: 1-800-232-7288
Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) – 24/7, English & French: 1-833-456-4566
First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line – 24/7: 1-855-242-3310
Canadian Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
Trans LifeLine: 1-877-330-6366