Getting Mental Health Crisis Support in Nova Scotia

Call (902) 429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll free)

The Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (MHMCT) provides intervention and short term crisis management for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis. They offer 24/7 telephone intervention throughout Nova Scotia - (902) 429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll free) - and mobile response (1:00 pm to 1:00 am) in most communities in Halifax Regional Municipality.




Note that this video is four years old and it does not mention the 24/7 telephone crisis intervention service that is now available throughout Nova Scotia.

From this document:

Mental Health Crisis vs. Psychiatric Emergency

A mental health crisis is:

1. an acute disturbance of thinking, mood, behaviour or social relationship that requires an immediate intervention;
2. which involves an element of unpredictability, usually accompanied by a lack of response to social controls; and
3. which may be defined as a crisis by the client, the family or other members of the community.*

Thoughts of suicide, distorted or psychotic thinking, intense anxiety, depression, unable to cope.

A mental health crisis does not necessarily require hospital-based assessment/triage services and can be effectively supported in the community by a team of service providers.

A psychiatric emergency is when a person is an immediate danger to him/herself due to compromised thinking and/or judgement. A psychiatric emergency requires hospital-based treatment services – Call 911 or attend a local emergency department.

* Consistent with B.C.’s Mental Health Reform Crisis Response / Emergency Services

Also see:

Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team

Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team - Overview Document (2007)

Video focuses on mental health (2013)

N.S. mental health supports reach rural areas (2013)

Meet Halifax's mental health mobile crisis team (2012)

Mental Health Services on Cape Breton Island

Please click on the image to magnify it.

To download the entire July 2012 booklet (PDF), please click here.

Also visit:

Cape Breton District Health Authority - Mental Health

Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority - Mental Health Services

Addiction Services Cape Breton

Also available:

Mental Health Outpatient Services
Strait Richmond Hospital
138 Hospital Road
Evanston, Nova Scotia
B0E 1J0
902-533-3300

Families Matter in Mental Health: An Education and Support Program -- Nova Scotia

Research has shown that family members experience less stress and feel more encouraged about caring for their relative and themselves when they understand about mental illness and how to cope with difficult situations.

The aim of this program is to provide family members of people living with mental illness the information, knowledge, common skills and confidence to deal more effectively with their role and to improve the quality of life for both the family member and person with the mental illness.

Families Matter in Mental Health is adapted from a program developed by The Meriden Family Programme. Based out of the UK, The Meriden Family Programme is a training and organizational development program which has been promoting the development of family-sensitive, evidence-based mental health services since 1998, with a particular emphasis on the implementation of family work. It is a National Health Services (NHS) program with extensive experience of working with organizations to ensure families remain at the heart of quality mental health service delivery.

To download the Families Matter in Mental Health provincial brochure (PDF), please click here.

To register to participate in an 11-week session of Families Matter in Mental Health in Nova Scotia, or to learn more about this family education and support program, please connect with your local Mental Health and Addictions Services, contact information for which is available by clicking here (for people living within the boundaries of the Capital Health district [including the IWK Health Centre], please contact the Healthy Minds Cooperative by calling (902) 404-3504, or by sending an email to hmnavigator@eastlink.ca).

Also see:

Supporting Families in Recovery - Capital Health Addictions and Mental Health Program

Examining the Nova Scotia mental health system

Dr. Michael Teehan, President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, is interviewed by Global Television just prior to the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia's 25th annual conference held on November 15th, 2013. The theme of the conference was "Mental Health Services in Nova Scotia: What We Have and What We Need".





Also visit:

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia's 25th Annual Conference: What We Have and What We Need

National Conference on Peer Support - Halifax, Nova Scotia

Wednesday, April 30th, to Friday, May 2, 2014

Please click on the image to magnify it.

For further information, please visit: http://www.psac-canada.com/ncps/

Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

From the Healthy Minds Cooperative's May 2012 newsletter:

It's Official

The Department of Health and Wellness has chosen Healthy Minds Cooperative to oversee the advancement of the Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program!

Healthy Minds Cooperative has demonstrated a long term commitment and belief in peer support since our inception in 2005. We believe peer support is an integral component of recovery for people living with mental illness. Our organization has been a pioneer in delivering formal peer support on inpatient units since 2006. This ground breaking work was happening at a time when peer support was virtually unknown. It is incredible to know that beginning in 2013 it will now be available in health districts across our province.

We extend a sincere welcome to Roy Muise, the Peer Mentor for the NSCPSS program as part of our Healthy Minds team. Well known and respected Roy brings his extensive work with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, work with PSACC, a vast knowledge of peer support and many years’ experience delivering peer support. Joining Roy in this exciting work will be Vince Daigle who has 7 years’ experience providing formal peer support on an inpatient unit, Michael Smith and Irene Skehen. Together the entire Healthy Minds team possess unique and valuable skills that amount to about 40 years’ experience working in the field of mental health. When you add the soon to be newly certified peer specialists, that will be delivering peer support to every health district in the province to this team there is no doubt that there will be hope and recovery for many. The Department of Health and Wellness is committed to improving the mental health and wellness of all Nova Scotians. They listened to the people of Nova Scotia and developed the first ever mental health strategy for our province. Thanks to their vision and support the reality of individuals having access to peer support will expand and become a reality across our province.

Also see:

Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Peer Support Accreditation and Certification (Canada) [PSACC]

N.S. puts $1 million into mental health program

Personal Directives - Nova Scotia

Also see:

Personal Directives

Rural Transportation Association (RTA) - Nova Scotia

Please click on the image to magnify it.

To download the entire document (PDF), please click here.

Also see:

Rural Transportation Association