Recognizing forensic psychiatry
Division to focus on teaching, research, service

May 8, 2009

A growing recognition of the subspecialty of forensic psychiatry has led to the establishment of a new division within the Department of Psychiatry in the College of Medicine.

Dr. Mansfield Mela, a faculty member in the department and acting head of the Division of Forensic Psychiatry, said the new entity is an important step in formalizing and expanding clinical work, teaching and research, “the three pillars of the university.” It also opens the door to strengthened partnerships between the University of Saskatchewan and other forensic practices, particularly those of the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) at its Regional Psychiatric Centre (RPC) in Saskatoon.

Forensic psychiatry, explained Mela, occurs at the intersection of the clinical skills of psychiatry and the law, both criminal and civil. In the case of offenders, forensic psychiatry plays a role in determining “the relationship between a person’s mental health and the alleged crime.” In civil cases, a forensic psychiatrist might be asked to determine, for example, parental competence. With substantial numbers of psychiatrists involved in forensic practice around the province, the new division will work to ensure “services are better given, research is better done” and training is formalized.

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is soon expected to officially recognize the subspecialty of forensic psychiatry, said Mela, meaning doctors pursuing this specialty will do fellowship training with exit exams. With the division structure in place, he said opportunities exist to develop fellowships that will expand the choices for medical residents and support the recruitment of forensic psychiatrists to the CSC which has five treatment centres and over 20 penitentiaries with mental health units across the country.

The training aspect of the division’s work will benefit greatly from the university’s long-term relationship with CSC and its proximity to the psychiatric centre, Mela said. Having RPC available to students “is the envy of many people in Canada, and in the world but some people think we’ve underutilized it as a teaching opportunity.”

The new division is also organizing a five-year research plan, he said, to co-ordinate the work of its members who collaborate extensively not only with other U of S colleges but also with outpatient clinics, RPC and the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford.

In the long term, Mela also believes the division will play an important role in improving forensic psychiatry services across the province which he said are “almost patchwork now.” Saskatchewan has received some “bad press” recently about its crime rates so ensuring people get the help they need while incarcerated and after release into the community is a priority. “I don’t boast that we’re going to reduce crime significantly … but the climate is right to make a difference.”