Photo courtesy of Bishop’s University
Dr. Catherine Malbœuf-Hurtubise, associate professor of psychology at Bishop’s University, recently received the Forces AVENIR Personnel Engagé award for her work in youth mental health and the creation of Bishop’s first doctoral program in clinical psychology.
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Dr. Catherine Malbœuf-Hurtubise, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Bishop’s University, has been honoured with the prestigious Forces AVENIR Personnel Engagé award. The award, which recognizes community engagement by university faculty, celebrates Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise’s leadership in establishing Bishop’s University’s first-ever doctoral program in clinical psychology. This program, launched in 2024, was developed with a strong focus on addressing mental health needs in the Eastern Townships community, particularly for English-speaking residents.
“The award that I got was actually because I led the project of the doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Bishop’s,” Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise explained in an Oct. 16 interview. “We’ve developed it really with the community in mind so that we can provide mental health services to the Bishop’s community, not just the university but the Lennoxville community as well.”
A clinical psychologist specializing in youth mental health, Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise has dedicated much of her research to exploring how children confront existential questions, such as those about climate change, death, and despair. Her work focuses on helping children process these challenging concepts through a combination of art and philosophical inquiry, creating a safe space for them to express their feelings. “It’s not by ignoring [despair] that it’ll go away. It’s a valid emotion that they need to explore,” she noted.
Her groundbreaking program has already had a far-reaching impact. Over 30 students have been trained to bring these interventions into primary school classrooms, positively influencing more than 1,500 children in the region. The program’s approach involves using art and philosophical inquiry to help children engage with complex topics in both verbal and non-verbal ways. “The arts are non-verbal, so it’s an alternative way to explore and express feelings. Philosophical inquiry is very verbal, so that’s why we combine both,” she said.
Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise’s methods are rooted in empirical research. A study conducted at Lennoxville Elementary School (LES) explored the theme of death with children, giving them the opportunity to create art and discuss their thoughts on bereavement. “They were quite happy that they were provided this space to create around the theme of death and to have a space to ask questions, talk amongst themselves, and co-construct meaning,” she explained.
Another area of focus for Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise is climate change and eco-anxiety. Her research revealed that while adults often try to encourage hope, children expressed a stronger need to talk about their despair. “The kids kept telling us, we don’t want to talk about hope, we don’t have any. We want to talk about despair. So, we readjusted to ensure that what we implement is aligned with their needs,” she said, emphasizing the importance of listening to children’s voices in addressing their emotional needs.
In addition to her work in the Eastern Townships, Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise’s research has extended beyond the region. She noted, citing studies in the United Kingdom, that children’s existential concerns seem to be universal. “The kids from the UK say the same thing as the kids from École Plein-Soleil in Sherbrooke or Lennoxville Elementary,” she said. This underscores the broader relevance of her work in addressing children’s mental health across different cultural contexts.
Despite working with both French- and English-speaking schools in the area, Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise observed that the existential questions children ask are remarkably similar, regardless of their language background. “It’s pretty universal,” she said when asked about differences between the two groups.
Her ongoing projects continue to partner with local schools, including LES and Plein-Soleil. “We’ve been working with both schools for a few years now, and I have no indication that these partnerships will stop anytime soon,” she said. Her future work will continue to focus on giving children the space to ask difficult questions and confront taboo topics such as despair and death.
Through her efforts, Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise hopes to remove the stigma surrounding these conversations and provide children with the tools they need to process their emotions. Her work on youth mental health remains a pillar of the new doctoral program, which aims to alleviate the shortage of English-speaking mental health professionals in the region. Currently, only 15 of the 450 psychologists in the Eastern Townships provide services in English, underscoring the critical need for her initiatives.
Dr. Malbœuf-Hurtubise’s contributions have not only expanded mental health services in the community but have also laid a foundation for future psychological support tailored to the needs of children. The Forces AVENIR award reflects her commitment to improving mental health care and fostering meaningful, inclusive conversations about difficult topics with young people.