Professionals Licence
Mental health professionals' license plans to be merged
"Two groups of Diet members working separately to create laws for national licensing of mental health professionals have begun talks aimed at unifying their bills.
Takeo Kawamura, former education, science and technology minister, and Ichiro Kamoshita, chairman of the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives, who lead the two groups, have held talks since late April to reach a consensus on the issue.
A multiparty group of lawmakers with interests in health and welfare planned to pass a bill to license psychologists who treat patients in hospitals, while another group with educational interests had proposed licensing those engaged in counselling clients at schools and health centers. Both groups wanted their bills passed in the current Diet session.
Psychologists provide mental health services at medical and educational institutions. The moves were prompted by a recent increase in demand for mental health services to help growing numbers of suicidal and depressed patients.
The need for quick and proper mental health services also was highlighted after disasters such as the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake. But there is no national licensing system for mental health counselors. Though the job title 'clinical psychologist' is well known in Japan, it is awarded by a private foundation, the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists.
The group of lawmakers with interests in health and welfare wants licensing only for psychologists working at medical institutions..."
The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17, 2005
"Two groups of Diet members working separately to create laws for national licensing of mental health professionals have begun talks aimed at unifying their bills.
Takeo Kawamura, former education, science and technology minister, and Ichiro Kamoshita, chairman of the Health, Labor and Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives, who lead the two groups, have held talks since late April to reach a consensus on the issue.
A multiparty group of lawmakers with interests in health and welfare planned to pass a bill to license psychologists who treat patients in hospitals, while another group with educational interests had proposed licensing those engaged in counselling clients at schools and health centers. Both groups wanted their bills passed in the current Diet session.
Psychologists provide mental health services at medical and educational institutions. The moves were prompted by a recent increase in demand for mental health services to help growing numbers of suicidal and depressed patients.
The need for quick and proper mental health services also was highlighted after disasters such as the Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake. But there is no national licensing system for mental health counselors. Though the job title 'clinical psychologist' is well known in Japan, it is awarded by a private foundation, the Japanese Certification Board for Clinical Psychologists.
The group of lawmakers with interests in health and welfare wants licensing only for psychologists working at medical institutions..."
The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 17, 2005
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