UBC Training Objectives – Shared Care (in development)
The Shared Care Psychiatry Program is a collaborative model of care that brings specialized mental health services directly into primary care settings. Working alongside family physicians, psychiatrists and interdisciplinary mental health teams support the early identification, assessment, and treatment of common mental health conditions, particularly depression and anxiety disorders, while remaining available to individuals with a broad range of psychiatric concerns.
A key feature of the model is the close partnership between psychiatrists, mental health clinicians, and family physicians. Care is delivered within family practice clinics, allowing patients to receive specialized mental health support while maintaining continuity with their primary care provider. Family physicians remain the central coordinators of care and collaborate directly with the mental health team throughout the treatment process.
The Shared Care Program enhances access to mental health services, supports family physicians in managing both acute and chronic mental health conditions, and promotes timely intervention within the community. By strengthening collaboration between primary care and mental health services, the program helps reduce reliance on acute care settings and improves overall continuity and quality of care.
Fraser Health’s Shared Care Program was one of the first collaborative mental health care networks in British Columbia, launching in 2001 with just three family physician practices. Today, the program has expanded to multiple sites across the region, providing specialized mental health services to adult patients in communities throughout Fraser Health.
UBC Fraser Health Psychiatry 