Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions Program Grant Recipients 2019-20 

Abbie J Lane 6 & 7 - Change of Scenery

This program offers patients the opportunity to access nature as part of their therapy throughout the recovery process.  All of the outdoor experiences are designed to support the recovery and rehabilitation of individuals experiencing mental health issues through the use of safe, supportive, natural environment. 

Abbie J Lane, Acute Care - The Wellness Garden

This program allows clients to socialize in a non-clinical setting, grow new interests, build confidence in meal preparation, and promote discharge readiness. The Wellness Garden also provides clinicians an opportunity to learn more about the patient's psycho-motor and psycho-social living in a more normalized setting.

Abbie J Lane 6&7, Acute Care– Living, Leisure, Loving Life

Living Leisure, Loving Life is a community integration program that focuses on providing regular access to leisure activities in the community. Many of these activities will be sustainable upon their discharge and will help contribute to their health and well being. Skill development areas include: using public transportation, knowledge of and participation in community clubhouses and recreational and athletic activities.

Abbie J Lane 6&7, Art Therapy - Art Group

Art Group encourages independence, choice, self-direction and community integration. for both inpatients and outpatients. Read Monique's Story

Borderline Personality Disorder Treatment Program- Building Bridges to Exercise

This 10-week learn to run/walk program provides an introduction to physical activity for clients and training to run or walk a 5K race. Funding facilitates client participation by covering the cost of running shoes, socks, supportive undergarments, and race entry. This program offers group runs/walks twice weekly, helps clients set exercise goals and provides information about free/low-cost exercise options in the community to encourage an ongoing fitness regime.

Community Transition Program- Lifetime Skills Development

This program will provide clients with the opportunity to participate in educational and vocational opportunities while practicing and increasing independence in their activities of daily living. Activities such as self-care and grooming, laundry, transportation, meal preparation, grocery shopping, managing finances. The use of these skills encourages client’s independence while also improving their self- confidence and self- esteem. Through the process of developing and working on these skill clients will learn to obtain long lasting lifetime habits and abilities which will encourage a healthy lifestyle as they transition into community living.

Community Transition Program- Physical & Sensory

The purpose of this program is to increase our clients physical activity level with four main focuses; to overcome barriers to participate in community programs through providing physical activities that accommodate their individual needs, engaging socially in meaningful physical activities in a safe and therapeutic environment, developing self-confidence and self-efficacy to meet individualizes exercise goals, and to achieve and/or maintain a healthy body weight. This grants effectiveness will be monitored by progression towards client’s goals through observation and feedback from the clients. 

Community Transition Program- Social Life

The purpose of the program is to assist clients with skill development to support them with reintegration into the community. CTP’s population varies and currently includes individuals from early 20’s to late 60’s with diagnoses that include Autism, Schizophrenia, Acquired Brain Injury, Personality Disorders and Dementia. Clients at CTP have had limited experience developing positive social skills and interactions, thus have a difficulty in developing and maintaining relationships. The purpose of this grant is to be able to support clients to achieve and maintain positive social interactions through a healthy leisure lifestyle.

Connections Dartmouth- ArtWorks

ArtWorks enables clients to explore their creativity using a variety of mediums with the support from longstanding volunteer and local artist, Violet Robertson. Artworks aims to provide safe, therapeutic outlets for individual expression, skill development, art techniques, community engagement and giving back to the community. Participants are provided with art supplies, instruction, project ideas and opportunities to explore local art through tours of local galleries and contribution to fundraising initiatives.

Connections Dartmouth- Eliminate Bed Bugs

This program will support the elimination of bed bugs for at least a dozen clients of Connections Dartmouth who do not have the financial ability or capability to cope or follow through with the procedures necessary to eliminate bed bugs. Without proper elimination of bed bugs, clients are not permitted to access services within the NSHA which further inhibits their recovery due to stress and isolation.

Connections Dartmouth- Exploring Beyond our Horizons

This program is aimed at providing opportunities to explore recreation and leisure activities while building skills. Through group and one-on-one work, clients learn the importance of everyday leisure, and how it brings meaning to their lives and impact their path to wellness and recovery.

Connections Dartmouth- Friends Among Friends

Friends Among Friends is a community-based group for consumers who have severe and persistent mental illness and provides weekly structure and support with an emphasis placed on client empowerment, choice and sense of belonging.

Connections Dartmouth- Walking Group

The Walking Group provides an opportunity for clients of Connections Dartmouth to participate in and learn about physical activity and socialization within their community. This program hits all three goals of recreation therapy; leisure education, recreation participation, and functional intervention. Throughout the duration of the group, the facilitator communicates several aspects of leisure education including community resources, events, and activities, ways in which to acquire a membership with the Sportsplex, free or low cost programs in the community, weekend and daytime leisure activity planning, and answers to any questions participants may have.

Connections Sackville - Friends Gathering

This is a group for consumers with a severe and persistent mental illness. The group offers weekly structure and support utilizing the principles of psycho-social rehabilitation. A balance of structured and unstructured activities, with an emphasis on empowerment, choice, and sense of belonging is provided. Funding will provide access to transportation to enable members to experience what others do regularly and easily. This may include bus trips to other communities, museums, local restaurants, recreational facilities, and festivals.

Emerald Hall - Girl’s Group

Girls Group provides female clients of Emerald Hall with a private forum to discuss women's health issues, to enhance hygiene and grooming skills, and to increase independence and self-esteem. Girls Group provides an environment where clients are encouraged to make choices and express their individuality by providing an opportunity to use different make-up and hygiene products, etc.

Emerald Hall – Special Events

This grant provides funding for Emerald Hall’s “Special Events” such as the Family Christmas Party, Family Barbeque, Family Support and Spring Tea, Valentine’s Day Party, Halloween Party and Easter Party. These events assist in normalizing the lives of the patients of Emerald Hall by providing opportunities for many of the patients to gain or practice social skills, make crafts, decorate the unit, visit with family and enjoy food and beverages together as they would at home in the community.

Mayflower Unit, Acute Care- Get Up and Go

The Get Up and Go! project focuses on the recovery of participants from the Mayflower Unit by supporting them in their first steps to returning to their communities. Clients engage in shared experiences with others, learn skills, and are motivated to reestablish connections to leisure. Leisure education allows clients to gain self-confidence and independence, providing opportunities to explore personal leisure attitudes, awareness, values and perceived barriers in order to better understand the decision making processes and one’s lifestyle choices.

West Hants Community Mental Health- Community Connections

Community Connections will work to provide recreational/leisure, educational (personal development & coping strategies), and social opportunities to clients of West Hants Community Mental Health and Addictions.  The program will connect clients to the activities and opportunities available in their community that they may not be aware of or typically have the means to participate in. This grant will also provide support for transportation to appointments, food banks, and recreational and educational activities.