April 16, 2021 (Dartmouth, NS) – The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is pleased to announce six new community mental health initiatives to help families and individuals in Colchester-East Hants manage the impact of multiple tragedies this past year. Thanks to the creation of the Scotiabank Resilience Fund, those who are struggling will have access to more than $110,000 worth of mental health and addiction support from local community organizations, with $40,000 more coming later in the year.
“The layering of tragic events this past year, and the sheer horror of April's shootings, have created a collective trauma. This coupled with the isolating and hopelessness created for some by COVID, has decreased overall reported mental health,” says Susan Henderson, CMHA Colchester East-Hants. “We hope to create spaces within our community for deliberate conversations about what a resilient community looks like and what collective tools could be developed.”
The six programs will help provide resiliency training, mental health literacy opportunities and creative outlets for people of all ages, with a focus on those affected by the April 2020 shootings.
“These innovative mental health programs will increase access to supports and services for those currently facing mental health challenges as a direct result of last year’s tragedies,” says Starr Cunningham, Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia President & CEO. “The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is proud to fund these worthwhile organizations that are committed to supporting the treatment and recovery of Nova Scotians living with mental illness and addiction with trauma-informed and resiliency-building programming.”
The programs which have received funding from the Scotiabank Resilience Grant are as follows:
Colchester East Hants Hospice Society - Mobile Grief Programs
This program will support the expansion of grief support services and grief education to residents in rural communities of Colchester and East Hants Municipalities. This program will provide support to residents affected by complicated grief in the wake of the April 2020 shootings and allow them to heal and continue their journey through grief.
CMHA - Resilience Educational Program
The Resilience Educational Program is an evidence-based resilience skills program that will provide practical tools and techniques for participants, opportunities for small group discussion, and peer support development. Experienced facilitators will provide engaging delivery direct to Nova Scotian counties, with many opportunities for interaction, questions, and conversations. The program will be delivered live, either in-person or virtually, with experienced facilitators. Delivery will be directed to local Nova Scotian counties, providing opportunity for local peer support connections to develop, with many opportunities for interaction, questions and conversation between participants.
CMHA - Building Resiliency - A Community Approach Part 1
This program is designed to provide a more responsive community by increasing the level of understanding and compassion towards those struggling with their mental health and wellbeing at home, work or engaged in their community. CMHA Colchester-East Hants Support Staff will be trained to deliver Social Emotional Living, Resiliency and Recovery and Mental Health in the Workplace to partner organizations. This mental health literacy initiative will create safe spaces for deliberate conversations about community resiliency and the development of tools to provide ongoing mental health and wellness support.
East Hants Fire Service - Family & Member Mental Health & Wellness Program
This mental health & wellness program is designed to support nearly 400 firefighters and their families through preventative mental health literacy and peer support. This will help meet the need of many of these volunteer first responders who do not have EAP and therefore have no access to mental health supports. The five month program will include specialized weekly webinar sessions, printed resources and literature for both parties that focus on mental health issues specific to volunteer firefighters. Based on the success of this pilot project, a provincial rollout will be explored, with the potential to impact an additional 7000 Nova Scotia volunteer firefighters plus their families.
After Trauma Empowerment Network - Music & Art After Trauma
This unique and innovative program by the After Trauma Empowerment Network (ATEN) is a weekly online forum designed to educate participants about trauma and mental illness. Each week a new topic will be discussed in partnership with a guest speaker and music/art component. This project is geared toward providing therapeutic benefits for individuals and families living with post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness and addiction. It will raise awareness about trauma and mental illness, while increasing self-confidence, social connection, peer support, coping skills and more.
MacPhee Centre – Portapique
The MacPhee Centre Portapique project is a community-based initiative providing youth with creative learning opportunities and proactive strategies to enhance and effect positive mental health and healing. This project has been developed in partnership with the Community Build-Up Project and the Portapique community hall revitalization project. This program will provide young people a space to heal and move forward collectively through experience with the arts under the guidance of adult mentors, recreation therapists, artists, and social workers.
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia will be awarding the additional $40 thousand dollars from the Scotiabank Resilience Fund during its next round of Community Grants in July 2021. To learn more or to donate visit mentalhealthns.ca/scotiabank-resilience-fund.