Dal puts mental health care in reach for low-income Nova Scotians

“I lost weight and struggled with chronic insomnia,” says Frank. “The financial strain made it hard to see solutions, and I didn’t have the tools to manage my stress.”

Frank’s family doctor couldn’t offer the support he needed. Without additional health insurance or the financial means to visit a private psychology clinic, he was unsure where to turn. Then he was referred to the , which offers free care to low-income Nova Scotians while training clinical psychology PhD students to help meet growing demands. Its innovative service delivery model offers vital care to those in need while filling critical gaps in the system.

Frank says that taking part in eight therapy sessions at the Centre helped him regain control of his life.

“I now approach problems with clarity, and I’m no longer overwhelmed by worry,” he says. “The Centre for Psychological Health gave me back a sense of agency over my mind and my circumstances. I’m grateful for their holistic approach — therapy addressed my mental health, while case management tackled practical needs like securing EI. It’s a model that truly considers the whole person.” 

Training students

Frank’s struggle is one faced by thousands of Nova Scotians searching for affordable ways to access psychological help.

On the other side of the patient-client equation is another challenge. Students must complete more than 1,000 clinical training hours over the course of their studies but often have difficulty finding places to practice. 

“There isn’t always a good fit for students that are early in their training,” says Dr. Shannon Johnson, director of clinical training for Dal’s clinical psychology PhD program. “We really wanted the ability to offer more of that training internally.” 

Inspired by Dal’s social work model, which offers interdisciplinary health students the chance to care for clients from low-income and marginalized communities, Dr. Johnson along with fellow Dal psychologist Dr. Alissa Pencer saw an opportunity to align the needs of communities underserved by psychological services and the students who could provide them. 

In September 2023, the ����tv Centre for Psychological Health officially opened its doors in Halifax’s Fenwick Medical Centre. Offering assessment and intervention services, the centre has so far delivered over 1,600 individual appointments to nearly 500 clients aged five to over 65 referred by 30 different community partner organizations. Additionally, 47 PhD students and residents have provided care as part of their training, under the supervision of the centre’s eight psychologists, including Drs. Johnson and Pencer, the centre’s co-directors. 

Ongoing need

“It’s not just that we’re adding to what the public system is already doing,” says Dr. Pencer of the centre’s holistic approach. “We’re providing some services that you can’t get anywhere else in a public clinic.” Also on staff are a dedicated health outcomes scientist and research lead, two social work team members, a clinic manager, and several student staff members in intake and front desk positions. 

Nova Scotia’s Office of Addictions and Mental Health provided three years of operational funding for the Centre, but additional monies raised will ensure capacity for patients grows as reach extends into the community, more servies are added, and Dal students continue to get the valuable training experiences they need. 

Fifth-year clinical psychology PhD student Catrina MacPhee has been involved with the centre since it opened, supervising first- and second-year students and serving as an intake clinician. MacPhee is interested in treating anxiety and mood disorders and plans to practice in Nova Scotia after her residency. “The centre provides a unique learning opportunity to support individuals from varied backgrounds with a range of mental health challenges,” says MacPhee.