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In a partnership of two downtown Toronto institutions, 14 graduate clinical psychology students at Ryerson University are offering free mental health assessments and psychotherapy to some of the city’s neediest residents at the St. Michael’s Hospital new family practice unit at 80 Bond Street.

Unlike other training programs where students work in a mix of hospitals, community-based agencies and private clinics to gain practical experience, the hospital-based clinic setting has been integrated into Ryerson’s curriculum to create a true partnership between the clinical psychology training clinic and the university teaching hospital.

The St. Michael’s Family Health Team is one of Canada’s leaders in bringing together various healthcare professionals in one location to treat patients collaboratively and to share knowledge about new and innovative practices. By integrating psychology services into the primary care setting, a unique care and training environment has been created.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide psychology students with high-calibre training in a real-life setting,” said Patricia Houston, vice president of education at the hospital. “And at the same time, they are providing a much-needed service for a disadvantaged patient population.”

Houston said this is also an innovative way to provide services in a tight economy. The program gives priority to patients who do not have insurance or a job, and will provide individual, group and family sessions.

“Ryerson’s partnership with St. Michael’s Hospital has opened the door to new possibilities for both institutions,” said Alan Shepard, provost and vice president academic. “The interdisciplinary approach to health care at St. Michael’s Family Health Team has created a unique interprofessional education opportunity for our students and a rich urban health research platform for our faculty.”

More than 100 patients are expected to come to the Ryerson University Psychology Training Clinic weekly and students will see between six and eight patients each.

“The integrated interprofessional health care model at the Family Health Team is setting a new benchmark in family practice care,” said Shaun Burns, lead psychologist and clinical director of the Ryerson University Psychology Training Clinic. “Ryerson students have a wonderful opportunity to work on the vanguard of mental health care.”

St. Michael’s Hospital and Ryerson University have enjoyed a longstanding partnership. Ryerson students from a range of health and community service disciplines started coming to St. Michael’s Hospital for training in 1992. Nursing, nutrition and social work students received training there last year, and the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing has been involved in research at the hospital.