Katy Kamkar
PhD, CPsych
Dr. Katy Kamkar, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a renowned clinical psychologist with global acclaim. By May 2023, she has been appointed the role of Federal Associate Organizational Ombudsperson, Mental Health at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). She was also appointed as an Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister on matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), May 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024.
With nearly 17 years of dedicated service at Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world's leading research centres, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), in Toronto, Dr. Kamkar also holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Her academic pursuits extend to her faculty involvement at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University since 2019, contributing to the Osgoode Professional Development program with a focus on essential skills for ombudsmen. Dr. Kamkar earned the Workplace Restoration Program Certificate from Queen's University Industrial Relations Centre (IRC) in July 2024. She also earned her certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard Business School in October 2024. Dr. Kamkar's accomplishments have been recognized extensively. In 2022, she received the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public or Community Service. The same year, the Indo-Canadian Psychiatric Association honoured her with the Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to Mental Health and Scholarly Presentation. Her significant contributions during the Canadian Mental Health Awareness Week were acknowledged by the House of Commons of Canada with a Certificate of Recognition in June 2021. Notably, in 2019, she achieved the status of Fellow of the Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety (CCJS) Advisory Council at the University of Regina's research institute for her strategic leadership.
Dr. Kamkar was the Medical Practitioner for the Invictus Games launched by Prince Harry, Toronto 2017, and closely worked with the Service Members and Veterans.
Dr. Kamkar is a member of the Canadian National Panel for the International Union for Psychological Science (CNP/IUPsyS). She is the Past Chair of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Traumatic Stress Sector. Dr. Kamkar is also the Provincial Mental Health Advisor to St. John Ambulance Ontario’s Council. She is a founding and credentialed member of the Canadian Association of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies (CACBT). Dr. Kamkar is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators (CAFI) and sits on the boards of directors of Operation Lifesaver Canada and the Canadian Juries Commission.
She demonstrates her commitment as the Co-Chair of the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association Inc. (GLEPHA), the Health and Wellness of Police and First Responders. She is presently a GLEPHA Fellow. She is an associate member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP); and is within the Research Advisory Committee of CACP and the Police Psychologist Subcommittee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Human Resources and Learning Committee. She also serves on the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT) Clinical Sub-Committee, supporting national leadership efforts to improve access to and innovations for evidence-based mental health care for PSP.
Dr. Kamkar has been invited to serve as a member of the Interdepartmental Advisory Working Group (IAWG) by the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, for the design of a Restorative Engagement Program (REP) for the federal public service, October 2023-Present. In the fall of 2022, the Government announced plan to further address harassment, discrimination, and other barriers in the workplace by establishing a restorative engagement program. With the contribution of members of the REP IAWG, the goal is to nurture a culture of change and support the Government of Canada in its efforts to create a diverse and inclusive federal public service. The Recommendations Report for the restorative engagement program were published in January 2024. As of September 2024, she is part of Trauma-informed, mental health and psychological safety subcommittee and Terminology, communication, and accessibility subcommittee.
Dr. Kamkar's influence extends through over 300 educational and speaking engagements at various levels, ranging from local to international. She remains committed to delivering workshops to Ministries, Universities, and Organizations, including Police and First Responders. Her expertise has positioned her as a sought-after keynote speaker, addressing topics such as Occupational Health and wellness, workplace mental health, disability management, trauma, moral injury, compassion fatigue, burnout, and strategies for establishing resilience pathways at individual and organizational levels.
Dr. Kamkar was called upon as an Expert Witness to provide analysis from a medical perspective at the Lancaster House Publishing Labour Arbitration & Policy conference in 2019, focusing on the theme "Disability & Misconduct: Proving the Connection." Subsequently, in November 2021, Dr. Kamkar was invited as a mental health expert to participate in a panel discussion titled "When Work Makes It Worse: Dealing with Mental Distress Caused by workplace relationships, policies, and practices" at the Ontario Labour Arbitration and Policy Conference, also organized by Lancaster House Publishing. Continuing their expertise in the field, Dr. Kamkar was once again featured as a mental health expert in 2022, addressing the topic "Difficult Accommodations: Responding to denial, defensiveness, and personality disorders." In 2024, she was Invited as mental health expert, panel discussion with employment lawyers and union, “Beyond the Open Door: Expert guidance on proactively recognizing and responding to employee mental health concerns”, Lancaster House Publishing.
Engaging with media extensively, she has participated in approximately 400 public relations appearances. Her outreach efforts encompass nearly 200 non-peer-reviewed publications geared toward the general public, in addition to academic book chapters and peer-reviewed publications focusing on trauma, moral injury, and resilience. The scope of Dr. Kamkar's influence includes her involvement with the House of Commons of Canada. In 2018, she was invited by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to contribute her insights on mental health support for jurors. Similarly, she addressed mental health challenges within the agriculture sector in another parliamentary committee session.
Her pivotal role in shaping mental health policy is evident through her involvement in the development of Canada's First Federal Framework on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Government of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, released in February 2020.
Additionally, she was enlisted by the Ministry of Solicitor General to address mental health concerns within the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) culture, following a series of officer suicides. Dr. Kamkar was selected and hired in 2019 by the Ministry of Solicitor General as the Mental Health Expert within the Province of Ontario to work with the External Independent Panel (Former Associate Chief Justice of Ontario; Former Deputy Attorney General of Ontario and Chief Prosecutor; and Former Ontario MPP and Cabinet Minister) to review Canada’s second largest police force, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) culture after a series of suicides of active and retired OPP officers. The final report contains 15 recommendations towards organizational and individual wellness and positive Workplace culture.
Her dedication led to her membership in both the Policing and Corrections Mental Health Collaborative Tables (MHCT), aimed at bolstering the well-being of Police and Corrections Personnel. She further contributes as a member of the Mental Health Collaborative Table's Joint Knowledge Sub-Committee, guiding evidence-based recommendations and resource development for Public Safety Personnel and First Responders.
Dr. Kamkar was part of the Implementation Advisory Committee (PSP-IAC), Peer Support Program for the Ministry of the Solicitor General 2020-2021. The peer support program has been launched since Summer 2021.
She was also involved on the new CSA Standard, National Standard on Work Disability Management for Paramedics, with a focus on addressing post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). The Standard has presently been developed and published.
Her contributions to the fields of trauma and resiliency, moral injury, and workplace mental health have garnered widespread acclaim both nationally and internationally. This recognition is evident in her numerous public speaking engagements and media appearances, her collaborations with governmental bodies such as the ministries and Public Health Agency of Canada, and her involvement with the House of Commons of Canada. Additionally, she is frequently consulted as a subject matter expert and has contributed to refereed publications, book chapters, and non-peer-reviewed publications aimed at the general public.
Some of TV appearances: www.katykamkar.com/videos
Links to Police/First Responders Mental Health Blogs:
http://2017.camheducation.ca/2016/10/19/behind-the-badge-mental-health-and-the-police-service/
http://2017.camhblog.ca/2017/04/06/depression-and-police/
http://2017.camhblog.ca/2016/12/15/behind-the-badge-holiday-stress-and-police-service/
http://2017.camhblog.ca/2017/09/14/moral-injury/
http://2017.camheducation.ca/2017/10/20/invictus-games-resiliency-in-action/
http://2017.camhblog.ca/2017/11/22/compassion-fatigue/
Twitter: @DrKatyKamkar Linkedln: Dr. Katy Kamkar
Research Synopsis
Anxiety & Depression