On this page
Overview
New Brunswick faces unique challenges in meeting the psychiatry needs of New Brunswickers, including an aging population, increasing mental health and addiction issues and a psychiatry workforce nearing retirement. This five-year strategy outlines a plan to recruit and retain psychiatrists while ensuring better access to care for all New Brunswickers.
Key pillars
The Psychiatry Resource Strategy is built on six key pillars that guide our efforts to strengthen the psychiatry workforce in New Brunswick.
- Education: Increasing opportunities for psychiatry training is essential for building a strong workforce. We aim to expand residency positions in New Brunswick and focus on creating supportive educational environments to attract new talent.
- Recruitment methods: To address ongoing shortages, New Brunswick will pursue a cohesive, province-wide approach to recruitment. With tailored marketing, streamlined processes, and a clear provincial brand, we will position New Brunswick as a preferred destination for psychiatrists.
- Community: Supporting psychiatrists and their families as they establish themselves in our communities is vital. From mentorship programs to assist new psychiatrists, to ensuring diverse and inclusive workplaces, strong community connections are key to retaining talent.
- Care model: Effective and innovative care models will help improve service delivery and reduce pressure on psychiatrists. By optimizing collaborative care approaches and addressing unnecessary administrative burdens, patient care will be enhanced.
- Compensation: Competitive and sustainable compensation packages are important for both attracting and retaining psychiatrists. This includes incentivizing excellence in both clinical and non-clinical work.
- Technology: Investments in technology will make mental health care more accessible and reduce strain on the system. Enhancements such as electronic medical records and data-driven decision-making tools will enable better coordination and more effective care.
These pillars provide a strong foundation to guide the province’s efforts over the next five years as we work to recruit, support and retain psychiatrists. By aligning resources with the identified needs, this strategy ensures that mental health and addiction services in New Brunswick are accessible, sustainable and well-coordinated.