Welcome to OPA
The Ontario Psychiatric Association is the provincial voice of Ontario’s psychiatrists.
The OPA serves to
- engage in systems advocacy relating to mental health
- represent the interests of psychiatrists and individuals living with mental illness or substance use disorders
- raise awareness and promote understanding of mental illness and substance use disorders
- support psychiatrists in their professional development, practice, and advocacy
Recent OPA Advocacy Work
- Call to delay Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
- Mental Health Act Reform: lobbying to reduce legislative barriers to care for the severely ill e.g. Form 3 criteria; Treatment Pending Appeal
- Protecting delivery of OHIP-covered psychotherapy
- Fighting stigma against psychiatric illness in the Ministry of Transportation’s 2018 updates to Medical Condition Reporting requirements
- Supporting Keira’s Law to expand education for judges about domestic violence
- Integration of mental health and addictions care
Who are OPA members?
- psychiatrists practicing in Ontario, Canada
- associates in related disciplines e.g. GP psychotherapy, family medicine, nursing, registered psychotherapy, social work, psychology, occupational therapy
- trainees in the above fields
Join us – Keep Psychiatric Advocacy Thriving!
As a not-for-profit, the OPA relies on membership dues to do the work that only the OPA can do – serving the needs of psychiatrists and patients across the province.
Member Benefits
| Advocacy & Leadership |
Partner Discounts and Affiliates |
Practice Support |
|---|---|---|
|
Working groups Resident Advisory Council |
UToronto Psych Refresh 25%
|
Curated clinical resources for psychiatrists Curated service and education resources for patients |
How else can you support the OPA?
- Apply to represent the patient and family voice on working groups and/or the OPA Patient Advisory Council
- Contribute financially
- Sponsor the OPA
- Follow us on social media
The Ontario Psychiatric Association cannot comment or advise on matters relating to clinical care (e.g. referrals, patient care, diagnosis, treatment, hospitalization). The OPA is not involved in individual cases of clinical care or legal advocacy. The OPA is not a disciplinary or regulatory body in the medical field, and does not investigate complaints about physicians.
News & Updates
OPA Advocacy
May 2023
Earlier this year, the OPA followed former Toronto Mayor John Tory's call for a mental health summit. Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health, responded to the OPA. Read the response letter here.
Psychotherapy Advocacy
April 2023
Dr Renata Villela, OPA Past President, published a Letter to the Editor in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry this month, with several current and past OPA Councillors as co-authors. Read more.
OPA Statement on Uninsured Program Cuts
March 2023
The Ontario Psychiatric Association is disappointed by the Ontario government's decision to stop health care coverage for all by ending the Physician and Hospital Services for Uninsured Persons Program, effective March 31, 2023. Read more.
OPA Call to Delay Expansion of MAiD for Mental Disorders
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is scheduled to expand in March 2023 to include cases where mental disorder is the sole underlying medical condition (MAiD MD-SUMC). Read more.
