The kids are not alright.
According to Mental Health Research Canada, 1.25 million youth in Canada need mental health support every year, yet more than half of them aren’t receiving it.
The numbers are stark: surveys suggest roughly one in four young people have had thoughts of suicide; tt is now the second leading cause of death among young Canadians.
Young people in Nova Scotia need more help—and Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) has taken a huge step to meet that need by launching a new doctoral psychology program and training clinic—the first of its kind in the province.
“There’s a need here in Nova Scotia, and throughout Canada, for more child psychologists,” said Minister of Addictions and Mental Health Brian Comer. “This program will train more doctorate-level psychologists right here at home. They will provide services, as part of their training, on campus at a brand new psychology clinic, opening more access for families and children.”
The four-year doctor of psychology program and residency—which is still in development and is likely to launch in September of 2025— will provide specialized training to better prepare future psychologists to support the population’s mental health needs, with a strong focus on applied knowledge and practical training.
The benefits of the program are two-fold: it will keep talented students in Nova Scotia and will help meet the growing needs for critical youth mental health care.
Kennedy Hackett—currently a psychology undergraduate at MSVU—is excited about the new doctoral opportunity here in their home province.
“The emphasis of the MSVU PsyD on hands-on training and extensive practical teaching is what makes this program so exciting,” said Hackett. “Being able to apply what you’re learning in a real clinical setting means that students can make a difference for those in need of care, while at the same time learning from expert supervisors who are leaders in the field.”
Students will provide supervised services for children, youth and families at the new training clinic, set to start construction this year. The cost of the new program will be split between two provincial government departments: The Department of Advanced Education will provide $3.7 million to support the academic program, while the Office of Addictions and Mental Health is giving about $4.2 million for the clinic construction costs.
Nova Scotians will be able to access free services at the clinic or remotely—including through partnerships with community agencies. Once fully staffed, the clinic expects to see more than 200 children and youth for assessment and treatment every year.
This article appears in Apr 1-30, 2025.