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CMHA Nova Scotia Division

Who We Are

Land Acknowledgement

The Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division acknowledges that we are in Mi’kima’ki,  the ancestral and territory of the Mi’kmaq People. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet people first signed with the British in 1725. The treaties didn’t deal with the surrender of the land.

It established the rules for an ongoing relationship between nations.

We are also in HRM which was settled and built by people of African ancestry in the 18th and 19th centuries. These people were formative in the building of our communities in meaningful ways and have contributed to the development of Nova Scotia as we know it today.

We must not forget that we are all treaty people and that we have responsibilities to each other and to this land.

Our Vision:

A Canada where mental health is a universal human right.

Our Mission:

To ensure that all people in Nova Scotia experience good mental health and well-being.

About

Founded in 1908, the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division [CMHA NS] is one of the oldest and most extensive community mental health organizations in Canada. CMHA NS supports the resilience, recovery and well-being of people living with mental illness and those experiencing mental health challenges across the province. Through programming, education and advocacy, we strive to create an environment of hope, to reduce stigma, and empower all Nova Scotians to flourish and thrive.

Our Impact:

  • Programming: Programming and education in 36 communities across the province.
  • Systems Change: At the division level, we advocate for mental health system change, educate, and influence societal beliefs and behaviours to create a climate of understanding and acceptance. Working with our allies and partners, we push for new systems, policies and practice that foster better mental health and well-being.
  • Advocacy: And we advocate to improve the spaces, places and conditions that shape mental health.

We proudly represent two branches and 40 staff working in communities across Nova Scotia.

Our Values

We are:

  • Inclusive: We want all people in Canada see themselves represented and served by CMHA. We value the voice of those who have experienced mental illness. We recognize a diverse range of mental health approaches.
  • Steadfast: We have long fought to improve the state of mental health in Nova Scotia, but our work is not done. We are champions of social justice. We remain as committed as ever to our task.
  • Progressive: We improve society by advocating for the conditions and policies required for good mental health.
  • Proactive: We are leaders. We value action over talk. We will innovate and think ahead to continue to address and improve mental health in Nova Scotia.
  • Compassionate:  We lead with the heart. We are compassionate, empathetic and caring. We approach our mission with love and kindness.
  • Collaborative: We mobilize and marshal resources, partners and people to come together to realize necessary changes in our communities and in the mental health system in Nova Scotia.

People in Nova Scotia can rely on CMHA NS for:

  • Support: We provide unwavering support to all people in Nova Scotia in their pursuit of mental health.
  • Knowledge: We offer inclusive, evidence-based information on mental health.
  • Access: We connect all people in Nova Scotia with mental health programs, services and support.
  • Protection: We safeguard the right of all people in Nova Scotia to social and economic security, freedom from violence, harm and trauma and access to the mental health resources they need.

Mental Health For All

Each year, 1 in 5 people in Canada experiences a mental illness or mental health issue, but 5 in 5 of us—that’s all people—have mental health.

  • By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
  • Mental health is not just the absence of mental illness; it’s a state of well-being and we all have it.
  • In order to thrive we all need a good sense of self and we all need purpose,contribution, hope, resilience and belonging.
  • We all have mental health just like we all have physical health, and everyone deserves to feel well.
  • There’s a common misperception that “good mental health” means feeling happy and “bad mental health” means feeling sad. In fact, a mentally healthy life includes the full range of human emotions—even the uncomfortable ones like sadness, fear and anger.   [Learn more]

Organizational Chart

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 illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Nova Scotians to flourish and thrive. Today, the importance of our mental health advocacy work in combination with new energy and direction of our organization makes CMHA-NS a dynamic employer of choice.

CMHA Federation: Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. We are a federated charity, which means we are a collective of organizations bound together by a brand and mission. Together, we identify and respond to Canada’s most pressing mental health priorities. At the national level, we push for nationwide system and policy change. At the community level, millions of people in Canada rely on CMHA’s extensive grassroots presence.

For more information visit CMHA National