After living under a State of Emergency during the past month, businesses closed, employees laid off, and social distancing not allowing us to meet up with friends or family, we are all trying to navigate this new normal. It’s been challenging and more difficult than we could have first imagined. We are struggling.
Our Health Care system and front-line workers are dealing with a pandemic. Our essential workers are working tirelessly to keep everything going for all of us. Our long-term care facilities have been particularly hard hit, as they attempt to manage the spread, while caring for our loved ones. We currently, as of April 20th, have 675 cases and nine deaths from COVID-19. We are struggling.
Then yesterday, the unimaginable happened. A mass shooting in our province, Canada’s deadliest, with at least 17 people confirmed dead, including RCMP officer Const. Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year member of the force and mother of two. It’s unthinkable. It is heartbreaking. In a province like ours, we all know someone who is impacted. Made even worse, the fact that due to social distancing, we can’t come together physically, makes it even more painful. If ever we all needed to reach out and hold each other…it is now. We are struggling.
The need to protect our mental health at this time, is greater now, more than ever. We are at a time in our lives, that we have never experienced before, and feelings of grief and loss, are intense. We will get through this….together, but apart. Reaching out and recognizing when you need help, is a sign of strength, and will help you move forward in the days and weeks to come.
There are resources available, and many now online, to assist with our mental health needs. From 24-hour hotlines to phone calls, video conferencing and online materials, accessing the help we need, is possible, even while are are social distancing. We thought it might be helpful to have some of them listed in one place.
We Are Struggling- A List Of Resources For Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Health Authority
The Nova Scotia Health Authority, has mental health supports available for those in our province. They have clinicians standing by in all parts of the province to provide any support needed to meet the needs of children, youth, adults, and families.
The Provincial Mental Health Crisis Line is available for you or someone you are concerned about 24/7, by calling toll-free 1-888-429-8167.
Kids Help Phone
Our kids of all ages are going through a lot right now. Younger kids may be missing their grandparents and friends, teenagers may be struggling with their social lives abruptly halted, and all of them may be asking “why” and feeling isolated with a mix of confused emotions and feelings.
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. They offer professional counselling, information, referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people.
Their service is completely confidential and people can connect by phone, text, mobile app or through their website.
Therapy Assistance Online (TAO)
TAO Self-Help is a free and private online resource that is available to all adults in Nova Scotia. It includes interactive activities and videos for people experiencing challenges with mental health or substance use. People have the option to choose topics to explore and go at their own pace.
Grief Counselling Services
Grief and Bereavement services, through the Nova Scotia Health Authority, offer Grief counseling to individuals and families who are having difficulty coping with their loss.
Serena Lewis is a Bereavement, Grief and Wellness coordinator with Nova Scotia Health Authority and a resident of the western Colchester area of Nova Scotia. She shared some advice on dealing with the resulting feelings and caring for one another in this time where we must remain physically distant.
If you think that you or someone you love could be served by Grief Counselling please contact:
Roy Ellis, Bereavement Coordinator
Tel: 902-473-1622
Fax: 902-473-3103
roy.ellis@nshealth.ca
Healthy Minds Cooperative
Healthy Minds Cooperative is an innovative mental health cooperative that provides a variety of peer-based services to people with lived experience of mental health issues and to their families. They have now moved their services online.
Regardless of where someone lives in Nova Scotia, they are able to provide support.
902-404-3504 | 1-855-901-6463
http://www.healthyminds.ca
FB @HealthyMindsCoop
TW @HealthyMindsHMC
Insta @HealthyMindsCoop
Strongest Family Institute
Strongest Families Institute is a not-for-profit corporation providing evidence-based services to children and families seeking help for mental health and other issues impacting health and well-being. They provide timely care to families by teaching skills through their unique distance coaching approach – supporting families over the phone and Internet in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Strongest Families provides family-centered care that is customized to their needs.
Acuity Counselling and Therapy Services
Acuity Counselling and Therapy Services would like to offer their services to help the victims and their families who have been impacted by the mass shooting in Portapique. During the current pandemic all of their therapists are offering phone and video sessions. They can be reached at 902-406-3400, extension 1.
KidsGrief.Ca
KidsGrief.ca is a free online resource that helps parents support their children when someone in their life is dying or has died. It equips parents with the words and confidence needed to help children grieve life’s losses in healthy ways.
KidsGrief.ca learning modules have been developed by a team of experts in grief, and specifically children’s grief, together with people who have experienced loss and supported children through grief. It is not meant to replace professional counselling or other health care services.
Crisis Services Canada
In times of great unpredictability and uncertainty, stress and anxiety can be natural reactions. Crisis Services Canada has put together some resources that provide information on safe coping strategies and support.
The Canada Suicide Prevention Service (CSPS) is here to provide support to people with concerns related to suicide. You can call CSPS toll-free at any time, at 1-833-456-4566. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
The days ahead will be heavy. Our province is facing some unimaginable grief and loss. We will get through…we are strong….we support our friends and neighbours….but we will struggle.
Even though we are social distancing, now is the time to connect with friends and family through phone call and video chats. Reach out and let them know you are thinking about them. Connections are more important now than ever. We can and must, support each other during this time.
We expect to see more resources become available during the days to come. If you know of a support available, please feel free to add in the comments. If you are struggling, please reach out, there are resources to help. It won’t be easy, it will take time, but we will get through this.
Peace and love to all of us in Nova Scotia.
Hi Jennifer. Strongest Families Institute is also a resource that offers mental health programs for Adults, Youth, Children and Families.
Hi there,
I know that Intentional Outcomes Counselling does online counselling as well.
Hi
Isabel lived in various parts of Nova Scotia mainly Halifax.
In 1999 I moved back to Halifax after coming down with Severe Brutal Depression the was PTSD after going through years of physical and emotional abuse at the mercy of bullies at school, from my Dad who brought the war home to us through his PTSD and violent drinking binges. Sibling violence and family violence.
Here in BC we have walk in Mental Health Clinics here and they are saying lives.
Make Walk-i Clinics your Legacy!
Hi, Jennifer. Thank you for all your work here and especially for the list of resources. I’d like to offer another resource (free, non-clinical). Not everyone is in crisis but many need a helping hand and some extra support. This will go a long way to helping people maintain or improve their mental health so that it does not get to the crisis level. Healthy Minds Cooperative is a peer-based charitable mental health and addictions cooperative in Dartmouth, and we’ve moved programming online. As always, we can also be reached by telephone, email, messenger and social media. All staff have lived experience which means, we’ve all “been there” and we all “get it” – a blessing when people are feeling lost and that no one could or can understand. If you’d like to share our information, please feel free. Regardless of where someone lives in Nova Scotia, we are able to provide support.
902-404-3504 | 1-855-901-6463
http://www.healthyminds.ca
FB @HealthyMindsCoop
TW @HealthyMindsHMC
Insta @HealthyMindsCoop
Thank you!