Nova Scotia is taking significant steps to enhance mental health support by funding a new clinical psychology residency program at Dalhousie University. The initiative aims to attract more mental health professionals to the province, addressing the ongoing need for clinical psychologists.
Key Takeaways
- Nova Scotia is funding a new clinical psychology residency at Dalhousie University.
- The program will start in the fall of 2025 with four full-time residency seats.
- The government is investing $311,025 in this initiative.
- The new seats will be divided between Dalhousie’s Student Health and Wellness Centre and the Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health.
- One of the four seats will be reserved for a student currently enrolled in Dalhousie’s PhD clinical psychology program.
Government Support and Funding
The Nova Scotia government is supporting the new program with a substantial investment of $311,025. The program will begin in the fall of 2025 and will offer four full-time residency seats each year for advanced doctoral students in clinical and counseling psychology. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Brian Comer expressed optimism that the new seats would help attract more psychologists to live and work in Nova Scotia.
"There is an ongoing need for more clinical psychologists across the province, and one of the best ways we can address this, while getting immediate results, is by training more people right here in our province," said Comer.
Addressing the Shortage
Currently, Nova Scotia has only 14 residency seats, spread out between the IWK, Nova Scotia Health, and the Canadian Armed Forces. This limited availability has forced many students to leave the province to complete their studies. The four additional seats will be divided between Dalhousie’s Student Health and Wellness Centre and the Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health, a training clinic that provides free, low-barrier mental health support to marginalized groups in the community.
Benefits for Students and Community
Alissa Pencer, co-director of the Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health and a senior instructor at the school’s department of psychology and neuroscience, highlighted the benefits of the additional seats for both students and community members. "The more spots the better, in terms of students being able to stay in Halifax," she said. "And for the center, residents are at the end stage of their training and can provide more than some of our junior students in terms of services, and so that’s a benefit to our clients."
Recruitment and Application
Doctoral students from across the country can apply for the residency, but one of the four seats will be reserved for a student currently enrolled in Dalhousie’s PhD clinical psychology program. This reservation aims to ensure that local students have the opportunity to complete their training within the province, further contributing to the local mental health workforce.
