A Canadian community mental health program: a clerkship experience

The authors describe a consultation-liaison relationship between a community psychiatry outpatient service and private community family practitioners, including some problems and solutions that have arisen as a result of this relationship. A medical student clerkship in this consultation-liaison setting is particularly useful in orienting students to community aspects of psychiatric care in primary care practice. Since 50% of medical students from McMaster University enter some form of primary care activity, this exposure and sensitization to community mental health activities is especially relevant.