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Nova Scotia: Mental Health
Oct 7, 2020
Community Mental Health Services: What to Expect (NSHA)
Step One: Find a Doctor! The first point of entry into the mental health system in Nova Scotia is through an individual’s family physician. Your doctor then will decide whether to treat you independently, or provide you with a referral to visit a psychiatrist, counsellor and/or a mental health clinic.
Options for individuals looking for a family doctor:
– Family Physicians accepting new patients. Visit the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness to find a physician closest to you. If your community is not represented, please contact your local district health authority. You may call physician offices/walk-in clinics in your area directly to see if they are accepting new patients. For further information, please call the Physician Information Line: 902.424.3047 or toll free: 1.877.731.1937.
– If you are a university student, you may visit the Health Services Department or website of your school to find out more information:
*It is important that you have a doctor that creates a safe and comfortable environment to discuss your mental health concerns with. If you require a new physician, please see below for other options to consider.
Other resources to consider if you do not have access to a doctor:
– Emergency Health Services [EHS]: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and you need immediate support, please visit the nearest EHS department in your area.
– Cape Breton Emergency Crisis Service [ECS]: Through the Emergency Crisis Program at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, anyone whose life or well-being is drastically threatened and who requires immediate care can receive emergency mental health service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To reach Cape Breton ECS call: 902.567.7767
– Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team [MHMCT]: If you are in crisis, the MHMCT offers telephone response (province-wide) and mobile response (within the Halifax Regional Municipality – HRM): 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To reach the MHMCT call: 902.429.8167 or toll free: 1.888.429.8167.
– Employee Assistance Program [EAP]: inquire with the human resource department at your work to see if you have access to EAP. Through EAP, depending on your plan, you may be able to speak with a mental health practitioner without having a family doctor. The cost of the EAP service is covered by your employer; as well, it is confidential and will not appear on your work record.
– Association of Psychologist of Nova Scotia [APNS]: If you have the financial means to pay for a session, you can visit the APNS website for a list of registered psychologists in your area.
– Family Service Association: Offers professional, confidential counselling services and is located in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Many of the Association’s services are accessed through self-referral and fees are based on the person’s ability to pay.http://www.fshalifax.com/
– Family Service of Eastern Nova Scotia: Provides competent counselling to individuals, couples, families and groups. No on is denied services due to inability to pay. There are six locations in Nova Scotia: New Glasgow, Antigonish, Port Hawkesbury, Inverness, Sydney and Glace Bay.
Please Note: The following list of regional services is not a complete representation of all community organization and services in Nova Scotia. It is encouraged that you search for services in your area to see what is available to you. If you know of any services that should be listed on this page, or if you are aware of any updates to any of the services already listed, please contact CMHA NS Division to make revisions. Thank you!
Provincial Mental Health Services (Adults)
- Nova Scotia Health Authority – Our Healthy Minds
- Nova Scotia Health Authority – Health Sciences Library
- Nova Scotia Health Authority – Department of Mental Health & Addictions
- Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program
- 211 – Nova Scotia Health, Mental Health & Addictions services
Provincial Mental Health Services (Children and Youth)
- IWK – Children’s Health Centre
- 211 – Nova Scotia Child, Youth, and Family
- Teen Mental Health (Web resource)
Provincial Mental Health Services (Older adults)
Community Mental health Organizations
- Family Service Association
- Healthy Minds Cooperative
- Laing House
- Metro Community Housing Association
- Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia
- 211 – Nova Scotia Health, Mental Health & Addictions services
Provincial Addictions Resources
Provincial Psychologists/Family Physicians/Dal Dept of Psychiatry
- Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia
- To find a psychologist to fit your specific needs, click here
- College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
- Dalhousie University: Department of Psychiatry
- 211 – Nova Scotia Health, Mental Health & Addictions services
Professional Associations
- Canadian Psychiatric Association
- Canadian Psychological Association
- Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers
Provincial Legal Services/Information
- Court Administration Offices
- Dalhousie Legal Aid Services
- Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society
- 211 – Nova Scotia Government / Legal Services
Provincial Commissions
Provincial and National Government Departments and Agencies
- Applying for a MSI Card
- Health Canada
- Nova Scotia Department of Community Services – Employment Support and Income Assistance
- Nova Scotia Department of Community Services – Services for Persons with Disabilities
- Nova Scotia Department of Community Services – Children, Youth, and their Families
- Nova Scotia Department of Community Services – Public Housing and Other Affordable Renting Programs
- Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women
- Nova Scotia Department of Justice – Personal Directives in Nova Scotia
- Nova Scotia Department of Justice – Mental Health Court
- Department of Health – Mental Health Services
- Nova Scotia Pharmacare
- Nova Scotia Office of the Ombudsman
- Operational Stress Injury Social Support Program (Department of National Defence)
- 211 – Nova Scotia Government / Legal Services
Provincial Mental Health Strategy
Provincial Housing, Homelessness and Poverty Resources
- Feed Nova Scotia
- Mobile Outreach Street Health
- Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank
- PovNet
- Shelter Nova Scotia
- 211 – Nova Scotia Housing / Shelter Services
Provincial Employment Resources
Post Secondary Provincial Education Disability Services
- Dalhousie Student Accessibility Services
- Mount Saint Vincent University Disability Services
- NSCAD University Students with Disabilities and Counselling Services
- NSCC Accessibility Services
- Saint Mary’s Atlantic Centre for Students with Disabilities
- 211 – Nova Scotia Disability Support and Services
Related
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- Adsum House
- Avalon Sexual Assault Centre
- Caregivers Nova Scotia
- Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Network
- >>Halifax Association for Community Living
- Health Promotion Clearinghouse
- HomeBridge Youth Society
- Independent Living Nova Scotia
- info-trauma.org
- L’arche Halifax
- People First Nova Scotia
- Pheonix Youth Programs
- Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia
- State of Rural Nova Scotia 2015
- Veith House