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February 2018

By February 1, 2018March 29th, 2018Monthly Update

1. Noteworthy items

  • Video launch: MPS has launched a commercial with the support of CPA, which can be viewed through our Facebook link above
  • The APA has created a new initiative to recognize psychologists for leadership and commitment to their communities. The APA Citizen Psychologist initiative invites self or other nominations for a presidential citation related to such leadership. More information and nomination materials can be found here: http://www.apa.org/about/governance/citizen-psychologist/
2. Upcoming Events
  • Monday, February 5, 2018 5-8 PM: MPS will be offering a free media training workshop to all members, facilitated by Judith Cameron. The workshop will focus on navigating the interview (strategies for interview success within a variety of modalities), communicating with media in crisis situations, and more. Please send an email to Dr. Kristin Reynolds (kristin.reynolds@umanitoba.ca) if you are interested in attending the workshop. 
  • Thursday, February 8, 2018 3-4:30 PM: Clinical Health Psychology 3rd annual Robert M. Martin Memorial Lecture with featured speaker Mr. André Picard, Health Columnist, Globe and Mail, who will present on Building a Healthier Health System taking place in Theatre B, Basic Medical Sciences Building,  
  • Monday, March 19, 2018: Want an opportunity for learning, fun, camaraderie, and great food? Join us at the MPS Annual General Meeting and Conference. Continuing education presentations will be held in the afternoon, followed by dinner and the Annual General Meeting (keynote speaker to be determined).
    • Student Poster Competition – we will be holding our bi-annual Student Poster Competition at the MPS AGM on March 19, 2018. Interested students should submit the title of their poster to Maia Kredentser by February 19, 2018 (posters presented at other conferences may be used). The winner will receive a $100 cash prize and recognition at the AGM. More details will be sent to presenters closer to the date.
  • February is Psychology Month! Information about events will be forthcoming through email and on our Facebook page.

3. MPS Updates

  • The MPS Social Action Committee decided to support comments made in a Winnipeg Free Press Op. Ed. piece by Dr. Jim Silver, about the importance of addressing the social determinants of health.  As this is an area with well-documented research and with social significance, the committee sent a letter to the editor supporting Dr. Silver’s points and highlighting their relevance to mental health.  The letter was published on January 23, 2018.

4. Articles of Interest

5. Get to know an MPS Board Member

Featuring Dr. Jo Ann Unger, Clinical Psychologist & Assistant Professor, Clinical Health Psychology, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba.

What are your initiatives with the board?

I am currently involved in a number of ways with the MPS board. For the past year and a half or so, and under the mentorship of Dr. Len Greenwood, I have been MPS’s Membership Director. This involves a number of things including reviewing membership requests and sending out all of those lovely membership renewal reminders. I am also currently President-Elect and have been enjoying watching Dr. Piotrowski closely to learn about the President role which I will take on in June, 2018. I will be passing along the Membership Director role to another board member in the next few months; stay tuned.  

Another MPS initiative I am involved in is a proposal for a Mental Health and Addictions Community Advocacy Network.  The purpose of the network is to increase communication between groups that do advocacy in this area and to potentially create partnerships for specific advocacy efforts. A number of other board members and I are currently in the process of reaching out to community agencies and other professional associations to get their input and feedback on the creation of such a network. We have enlisted a number of students to help us compile this interview data and will use it to fine tune the original proposal. We hope to have a network established and host a meet-and-greet event in June.

What do you enjoy about being on the board? 

What drew me most to being a part of the MPS board was the opportunity to do advocacy work on behalf of the people who require psychological services and cannot gain access. There is such a shortage of psychologists in this province and the need is so great. Now that I have been a part of the board for a couple of years, I greatly enjoy getting to know and working with such a wonderful group of psychologists.  I look forward to our thought-provoking discussions, our collaboration on projects and informal conversations. I am looking forward to what the next few years at MPS will bring and am grateful for the ongoing mentorship of Dr. Piotrowski

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