Department of Psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry has five members providing both office practice psychiatry and a range of clinical services. Members provide psychiatric consultation on referral by physicians and ongoing psychiatric care. There is an 11-bed inpatient unit situated at Valley Regional Hospital with the focus being on short term admissions, stabilization and follow up within the Community.

Department members work with a number of mental health disciplines: nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and social work; in addition to Community Support Workers for those who have persistent and severe mental illness. 

Care is provided to those under 19 years of age via the Child and Youth Program; those between the ages of 19 to 65 are served by the Adult Mental Health Program; and those ages 65 and over by the Seniors Mental Health Program.

The Department Members are:

Dr. Brian Burke
Child and Youth Program/General Adult Psychiatry - AVH Chipman (Kentville) with a satellite office located at the Valley Regional Hospital (Kentville).

Dr. Brian Garvey
General Adult Psychiatry - Soldier’s Memorial Hospital (Middleton) Mental Health Service with a satellite office located at the Annapolis Royal Community Health Centre. 

Dr. Joe George
General Adult Psychiatry, Inpatient Unit at the Valley Regional Hospital with satellite offices located at AVH Chipman (Kentville) and Western Kings Memorial Health Centre (Berwick). 

Dr. Duncan Veasey
General Adult Psychiatry – AVH Chipman (Kentville). Satellite offices are located at the Valley Regional Hospital and Soldier’s Memorial Hospital (Middleton). 

Dr. David Mulhall
Psychiatry Department Head - General Adult and Senior’s Mental Health Programs, as well as Inpatient Unit at the Valley Regional Hospital (Kentville). 

Procedures Performed and Supported
Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) at the Valley Regional Hospital in conjunction with anesthesiology, available on both and Inpatient and Outpatient basis three times weekly, Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

Psychiatry is primarily a “low tech” program with the primary role being consultation/assessment directive and ongoing care of those with mental illness in conjunction either with other mental health professionals or with primary care program, i.e. family physician, VON, home care, etc. 

In addition Mental Health Services provide consultation to other agencies including Education, Community Services, Family and Children’s Services, Community Living Programs, Probation Services, etc. Please refer to the Mental Health Home 



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