Funding for internship programs for future psychology students has been cut by the Nova Scotia government.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Wellness said the cut was made for financial reasons.

"The province continues to face serious financial challenges and that meant making some tough budget choices, including funding related to stipends for psychology interns," wrote Tony Kiritsis in an email.

The concern is that we will also not be able to retain psychologists in the area. - Heather Power

He said while the government is no longer funding the program, the Nova Scotia Health Authority will continue the stipend for those under contract for the rest of the fiscal year.

Heather Power, president of the Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia, says she's disappointed to learn money for the 12-month internship programs will be cut for the upcoming year.

If the programs are stopped, she says, students in study will leave the province to finish their degrees — reducing the likelihood they will return to practice in the province.

"If we are not able to recruit psychologists through our education programs, through internships, through the province, then the concern is that we will also not be able to retain psychologists in the area," she said.

"If we don't have psychologists here, then we are again not contributing to supporting the mental health of the public."

Cape Breton in need

Psychology internship programs exist at institutions across Canada, Power said, adding students expect a local internship option when deciding where to complete their graduate degrees.

"The internship programs provide training and education for PhD psychology students, typically," she said. "In Nova Scotia, they are particularly important for psychology training because we need psychologists in this province."

Rural areas and Cape Breton are in particular need of psychologists, Power says.

"What we do know from research is that psychological services are actually cost saving to the public system. But that does not seem to be reflected in the decisions that are made at the government level."

'Too early to tell'

She says about 25 per cent of Dalhousie University psychology students complete local internships, and a large majority of graduates have stayed in the Maritimes since 2008.

If students aren't given a path to stay in the province, Power says wait-lists for public services won't get shorter.

"The concern is that potentially individuals who are early in the five-year program may say, 'Well, I moved here for five years. I came to Nova Scotia with the intention on bringing my family here, with the intention on receiving my education and my training here, setting up shop here. But if I'm just accepted into the program and I know that I'm going to have to leave, then am I going to stay?'"

She said the cuts will force institutions providing internships to seek other program and funding options.

Power said advocacy and executive committees at Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia are still learning how this will play out.

"I think it's too early to tell," she said.