The MPC's specialized Mental Health Training Program consists of four primary components:

• Lecture/seminar series
• Case consultations
• Student tours
• Clinical field placements

These components are described in further detail below. A selected number of graduate students enrolled in each of the academic units represented in the MPC are chosen to participate in the Training Program. The Training Program begins the academic year with a comprehensive orientation to the mental health field for its graduate and professional students. In addition, an annual regional conference focusing on a discrete aspect of the public service mental health sector or a specific issue faced by mental health consumers typically supplements the formal course of study.

Lecture/Seminar Series

The primary didactic component of the Mental Health Training Program is composed of a series of seminars/lectures held on Friday mornings throughout the academic year. To ensure a wide range of perspectives, speakers for individual lectures include a broad array of constituents in the mental health system: consumers, family members, educators, professionals, and administrators. Each lecture/seminar is separated into a presentation by the guest speaker and a group discussion facilitated by one of the MPC faculty.

Case Consultations

The case consultations present an opportunity for MPC students to become familiar with the roles of the respective disciplines as well as the coordination and cooperation necessary to provide high quality service to mental health consumers. At these case consultations, the facilitators present case histories and moderate a discussion among the participating students on the role and function for each of the core disciplines in assembling a comprehensive collaborative therapeutic plan.

Student Tours

The Mental Health Training Program has traditionally featured visits to a variety of mental health agencies and other service settings. The tours are intended to provide students with firsthand knowledge of the vast array of mental health resources available in the community and the milieu in which mental health care is delivered. These site tours are particularly well received among our students, who appreciate the opportunity to observe several mental health care settings other than their assigned clinical placement.

Clinical Field Placements

All students participating in the Mental Health Training Program are required to complete a primary clinical practicum or field placement assignment. Students are assigned to work in one of the participating community mental health agencies as a trainee under the direct supervision of a professional from their own discipline. Priority in selecting practicum or placement assignments is given to those agencies or organizations providing a multidisciplinary experience.

Students who have completed the MPC program demonstrate: