Black psychologists fear EDI rollback within Canadian Psychological Association

A group of Black psychologists within the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) are expressing concerns over proposed changes to the organization’s strategic plan that they fear may lead to a rollback in equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives. The CPA, which is the largest association for psychology in Canada, with over 7,000 voluntary members and 35 specialized sections, including sections for Black, Asian, and Indigenous psychology, recently shared a draft proposal for its new strategic plan with its members for discussion.

The proposed changes include removing two specific goals related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as truth and reconciliation initiatives, from the strategic plan and making them “foundational elements” instead. The goals in question, Goal 5 and Goal 6 of the previous strategic plan, focused on promoting and modeling equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as being accountable to Indigenous peoples through the CPA’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report.

While the CPA leadership argues that the purpose of the changes is not to eliminate but to elevate these focus areas to ensure they are top of mind in operational decision-making, Black psychologist Kafui Sawyer, the founding chair of the CPA’s Black Psychology Section, is incensed by the proposed changes. She believes that removing strategic goals that impact racialized people without consulting these groups is disrespectful.

The Black Psychology Section of the CPA was established in December 2021 to address the underrepresentation of Black people in the field of psychology. Helen Ofosu, the current chair of the Black Psychology Section, notes that only around 140 Black individuals in Canada hold a master’s or PhD in psychology, making them a significantly underrepresented group. This lack of representation poses barriers to Black individuals accessing mental health services, as people often feel more comfortable seeking help from professionals with relatable backgrounds.

Sawyer and Ofosu have advocated for specific changes within the CPA, including requesting the collection of race-based data to better understand the issue of representation. They feel that the proposed changes to the strategic plan are erasing the inequities faced by Black individuals in mental health delivery.

While the CPA’s CEO, Lisa Votta-Bleeker, maintains that the organization remains committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and truth and reconciliation, she acknowledges that better communication with members could have been handled. Votta-Bleeker assures that feedback from members is being heard, and the strategic plan will be strengthened based on this input.

In light of ongoing negotiations within the CPA, the Indigenous Psychology section and the Asian Psychology section have declined interview requests but have expressed solidarity with the Black Psychology Section and its initiatives. The CPA is working to address the concerns raised by its members and ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion remain at the forefront of its operations.