Below are key updates on several topics pertaining to our Section.
War in Ukraine
We would like to express support for the innocent people suffering due to the war in Ukraine. The invasion is leaving many hurt and displaced, with the ongoing pandemic creating additional distress.
The risk of cyberattacks is also expected to increase and to undermine critical infrastructure, including health-care organizations in countries that imposed sanctions against Russia. The Ontario Medical Association and OntarioMD are committed to raising awareness among its members about potential risks and the steps you can take to protect yourself personally and professionally. Learn about cybersecurity, how to report cybercrime, and how to keep your information safe online.
The OMA has also donated $5000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. The Red Cross has the necessary infrastructure and is able to provide immediate and ongoing relief. You can help too. If you want to contribute to the Canadian Red Cross relief efforts, please donate.
International Women's Day
March 8, 2022 was International Women's Day.
i) Links
To help commemorate this event, here is a list of content featuring important contributions made by our incredible female colleagues.
Domestic violence and femicide, the killing of a woman or a girl, in particular by a man, and on account of her gender, is a national crisis in Canada. One in four women experience domestic violence in their lifetime. One woman or girl is killed every other day, on average, somewhere in our country (1). Children may be killed in the context of domestic violence, either due to parental negligence or as a deliberate attempt to harm the other parent - in these cases, the children are used as pawns to enact revenge on the former partner (2). Physicians cannot rely solely on the family and criminal justice systems to protect women and children from harm (3). When judges ignore red flags and warning signs, children may be put directly in
danger. According to the National Judicial Institute, there is no mandatory training for judges on domestic violence.
Bill C-233, informally called "Keira's Law," is a federal Private Member's Bill introduced in the House of Commons on February 7, 2022 by MP Anju Dhillon and supported by MPs Pam Damoff and Ya'ara Saaks. Keira's Law (Bill C-233) is named after Keira Kagan, daughter of physician Dr. Jennifer Kagan. Keira, age 4, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide at the hands of her father in 2020 after she was ordered into his care unsupervised, despite many red flags and warning signs. Keira's Law will establish continuing education seminars for judges on matters related to intimate partner violence and coercive control. This education will provide judges with the tools to identify patterns of domestic violence and coercive control, including risk
factors for lethality, and if passed, will save lives.
As part of marking this week’s International Women's Day, we encourage you to contact your Member of Parliament in support of Bill C-233/Keira's Law and to honour all victims of femicide in Canada.
Please take the time to review the proposed physician services agreement.
Highlights impacting our Section include permanent virtual care codes with new payment and interval parameters and psychotherapy not being delisted/devalued/restricted. There is also a commitment to work towards the FAIR model for relativity.
Members will begin voting electronically on the proposed agreement on March 22, 2022. Voting will close at the conclusion of a virtual special membership meeting on March 27, 2022. The results will be communicated to members on March 28, 2022. Ratification requires approval from 50 per cent of votes cast plus one.
Upcoming Educational Events
The Ontario Psychiatric Association is continuing its latest Expert Series. The next two virtual presentations are being given by Dr. Zena Samaan about treatment-resistant depression on March 30, 2022 at 19:30 and by Dr. Adam Ellis about understanding street trauma on April 5, 2022 at 19:30. Full details are available.
For those interested in learning more about the evidence base for psychoanalytic therapy, you can register for the free Austen Riggs Center virtual event on April 1, 2022 from 12:50-13:50 presented by Dr. Jonathan Shedler.
The Section on Primary Care Mental Health
is also holding free, virtual, once-monthly, informal, interactive sessions to help participants learn from each other while exploring the challenges arising from delivering mental health care. If you would like to help out your colleagues by sharing your clinical expertise or just wonder what your colleagues are struggling with as clinicians, this series could be a great fit. Led by a member of the Section on Primary Care Mental Health Executive or Education Committee, these unstructured sessions are focused on creating a relaxed and supportive environment. As each session is an independent entity, you are welcome to join for even one session. Upcoming dates are: April 12, 2022, May 10, 2022, and June 14, 2022. Sessions run from 19:30-21:30. To
register, e-mail: pcmhsection@gmail.com.
Regards,
Dr. Renata M. Villela, MD, FRCPC Section on Psychiatry Chair
The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) administers the distribution of communications for its various Constituency Groups, and therefore the views and the opinions expressed in this communication may not reflect the views, policies, and opinions of the OMA. The OMA does not warrant the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information contained in this communication, nor does it accept any responsibility for its contents.
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