Atlantic Mortgage Brokers raise $16,009 for CMHA NS 

“The pandemic really highlighted how many people are struggling,” said Drover. “And not just that, but that we need to talk about it and normalize those conversations.”

– Michelle Drover, Vice President of Premiere Mortgage Atlantic 

With so many Atlantic Canadians hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic, Michelle Drover believes CMHA’s work is more important than ever.

That’s why the Halifax-based mortgage broker and Vice President of Premiere Mortgage Atlantic says she and her team selected CMHA as a recipient of their inaugural Premiere Cares Walk it Forward campaign.

“Mental health is something we are so proud to support because it’s universal,” said Drover, adding that the Atlantic-based  team “jumped” at the opportunity to fundraise for CMHA. “Everyone has mental health. Everyone has to work at taking care of it.”

The campaign brought in $18,000 for CMHA Divisions in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Of that, $16,009 was raised by brokers in Nova Scotia and allocated to the Nova Scotia Division.

Drover, along with her colleagues, Donna Eagle, John Vo and Sarah Somers, presented their donation on October 13 in Halifax.

“The pandemic really highlighted how many people are struggling. And not just that, but that we need to talk about it and normalize those conversations,” said Drover.

In fact, Drover added, it was the number of conversations she was having about mental health over the past year-and-a-half that struck home for her.

“Burnout” was just one example she and Vo listed as a common thread.

“A lot of work is a great thing in our business — a wonderful thing,” Vo added. “But there does come a point, where people need a break. So I’ve learned that it [burn out] is a real thing.”

According to a national monitoring survey released by CMHA in partnership with the University of British Columbia (UBC) 55% of adults in Nova Scotia reported feeling negative emotions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the survey, the most common responses across the province were ‘worried or anxious,’ ‘stressed,’ ‘lonely or isolated’ and ‘sad.”

“Covid has just really shone a light on how fragile mental health is and how much we need to take care of ourselves, and how important mental health services and education really are. I think the support we got in Nova Scotia tells me I’m not the only person who feels that way.”

Karn Nichols, Executive Director of CMHA NS Division said Premiere’s donation will be put to good use.

“We are grateful for the support of Michelle and her colleagues across the province for their hard work and their incredible generosity,” she said.

“So many Nova Scotians are directly and indirectly affected by mental health challenges. That’s our motivation to develop innovative pathways to  support not only those living with mental illness but also the people who love and care for them. That is why we work tirelessly to help those in need: because it affects us all.”

About Premiere Mortgage: The Premiere Mortgage and Insurance team is made up of mortgage and insurance brokers who help guide clients through a complex process of financial strategies and decisions. Their mission is to provide the client with fair and customized financial solutions tailored to any situation. Learn more:https://choosepremiere.com/about-us/

About CMHA NS Division: Founded in 1908, CMHA NS is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. Through a presence in 36 communities across the province, CMHA NS provides advocacy and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Nova Scotians to flourish and thrive.Our mission is to ensure that all people in Nova Scotia experience good mental health and well-being.