Psychiatry Celebrating 75 Years

The Department of Psychiatry is celebrating a significant milestone in 2024.

The Dalhousie University Department of Psychiatry was established in spring 1949 under Dr. R.O. Jones. The first residents began training in July 1949 at various hospitals.

In the mid-1950s, research became a focus, and in 1954, a Professor in Charge of Research was appointed. In 1971, the Abbie J. Lane Memorial Hospital opened as a key teaching facility. By the 1980s, the department introduced an 8-week psychiatry clerkship into the undergraduate medical curriculum.

As the decades have past, the department has offered more specialized clinical services. By 2021, the department expanded to one division and four clinical academic sections: the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Sections of Community Psychiatry, Acute and Inpatient Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Geriatric Psychiatry.

The department has made significant advancements in social policy and advocacy, establishing a committee to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion within its activities. Wellness initiatives have been prioritized, leading to the formation of a Wellness Committee. Global mental health initiatives have expanded and include international collaborations for training and research opportunities.

The department has continued to offer high-quality psychiatric education for residents, fellows, and students, with over 100 faculty members training the next generation of psychiatrists and researchers. Opportunities for further subspeciality training as well as graduate studies in psychiatry research are available.