A Quarter of a Million Reasons to Change the Way People Think!

The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia Funds Community & Inpatient Mental Health Initiatives

A quarter of a million reasons to change the way people think! The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is pleased to announce its 2019-2020 Grants have been awarded. A total of $250,000 has been granted through the Foundation’s first round of Community Grants and the NSHA Mental Health & Addictions Program Grants. 12 community organizations working to improve mental health literacy and support across the province have been granted a total of $120,000. A second round of Community Grants will be awarded later this summer. $130,000 in Mental Health & Addictions Program Grants have also been bestowed. 

The 12 community projects that have received 2019-2020 funding are:

  • 11th Annual Ray of Hope Retreat will provide a safe, nurturing environment for women in recovery to share their experiences, strength and hope with one another. 

  • Working Well with Mental Illness will offer accommodations to workers with mental illness in seven different Nova Scotia locations by way of a web-based Job Access Mobile application (JAM App) designed by Dalhousie University’s Inclusive by Design Research Lab. 

  • Rooting the Farm & Spreading the Model will allow the Common Roots Urban Farm – Dartmouth to offer new employability programming while continuing skills-training and educational workshops.

  • LakeCity Pre-Employment Peer Support Program will operate as a launch pad toward employment, learning opportunities, relationship-building and integration for adults living with mental illness. 

  • Kidz Connect by Family SOS will address mental health and online safety for HRM children and youth with the goal of proactively teaching awareness and prevention of mental health problems at a young age. 

  • Parent Resource Lending Library will develop a library of resources for parents in the Inverness Family of Schools aimed at helping them learn about mental health problems that are prevalent at various ages and stages. 

  • Life Skills Program by the John Howard Society of Nova Scotia will provide Anger Management, Emotional Intelligence and Healthy Relations Programming and foster a sense of community while teaching mental health skills and well-being. 

  • LOVE Leadership Training & Outreach will provide youth who‘ve experienced violence and mental health problems with the skills and knowledge to become leaders who educate others about youth culture, violence prevention and additional important issues.

  • The Art of Friendship by CMHA Nova Scotia will provide a community resiliency-based peer support pilot project in three Nova Scotia communities. The project will provide a safe, caring and supportive environment for youth and adults to reduce social isolation, build self-awareness, gain confidence and develop social and emotional skills.

  • TNT (Then, Now and Tomorrow) will bring together youth and seniors to plan and create an online presence comparing life ‘then’ to life ‘now’. The Chester Municipal Heritage Society project will engage youth through video to tackle the stereotypes often connected with aging and dementia. 

  • Expanding the ICAN Adult Anxiety Program to Nova Scotia will focus on Nova Scotians between the ages of 18-30 who are significantly impacted by anxiety and depression through an evidence-based telephone coaching service, created in Nova Scotia as a project of Strongest Families Institute. 

  • Audience Response System will display live results during CMHA Kings County weekly Resource Management Peer Support Group sessions. It will allow full participation at key points, especially by those new to the group or experiencing anxiety

“We are pleased to be able to support so many worthy and deserving projects happening across the province,” says Starr Cunningham, President & CEO. “Unfortunately, there are many more organizations that require funding. Our focus now has to be on figuring out a way to say ‘yes’ more often than we say ‘no’. We need the help of all Nova Scotians to change the way people think about mental illness and addiction.”

The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia distributes funding to programs and services across the province on a biannual basis. The second call for 2019-2020 Community Grants applications will take place July 2019. To learn more or to make a donation visit mentalhealthns.ca.


 About the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is a registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of Nova Scotians living with mental illness and their loved ones.  We raise funds for vital programs and services that help make this possible, province-wide.

www.mentalhealthns.ca

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Media Contact:

Jill Chappell, Marketing & Communications Lead
Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia

T: (902) 464-3210
E: jill.chappell@nshealth.ca