Hope for Mental Health

12/25/2025

12/23/2025

“While the holiday season fills some with joy and excitement, for some, it’s a time that challenges mental and emotional well-being. Whether due to separation from loved ones, personal grief, the pressures of gift-giving, economic hardship, challenging interactions with family members, or shorter days, this time of year can bring unique behavioral health challenges.

If you experience added stress during the holidays, there are strategies to help:” Canadian Mental Health Association - Nova Scotia -

While the holiday season fills some with joy and excitement, for some, it’s a time that challenges mental and emotional well-being. Whether due to separation from loved ones, personal grief,...

12/18/2025

Hope for Mental Health will be closed for the holidays from December 19, 2025, and will reopen on January 5, 2026.

As we move into the holiday season, we want to acknowledge that this time of year can bring a mix of emotions. While many people experience joy and connection, others may find the holidays overwhelming, lonely, or especially difficult. For individuals and families living with mental illness or addiction, this season can add extra layers of stress, pressure, or vulnerability.

Even though our doors will be closed during this period, you are not alone. Support is still available. If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs immediate help, please contact 911 or reach out to your local mental health crisis line. There are caring professionals ready to listen and provide assistance whenever you need it.

We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year and continuing to walk alongside you on your journey toward healing and hope.

Support for addictions and mental health is available across the province. You never have to struggle alone. If you need help finding supports near you, call 211, visit YourHealthNS.ca or download the YourHealthNS app.

Access Wellness https://accesswellness.lifeworks.com/nova-scotia-en

Free one-hour counselling sessions with mental health professionals are offered to adults and families through the Access Wellness service. Your session can be delivered in-person, online, or by phone at 1‑833‑691‑2282.

Provincial Intake Service https://mha.nshealth.ca/en

If you need support with a mental health or addiction concern, Nova Scotia’s Mental Health and Addictions Intake team is here to help at 1-855-922-1122.

Crisis Supports https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/provincial-mental-health-and-addictions-crisis-line

If you are experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis or concerned about someone else, call the Provincial Crisis Line toll free at 1-888-429-8167 to speak to a trained clinician or visit your nearest emergency department.

Su***de Prevention Line https://988.ca/

If you or someone you love is thinking about su***de, call or text 9-8-8 for judgement-free support.

12/16/2025

This time of year can be joyful — but it can also be hard.

We’re thinking of everyone carrying grief, anxiety, loneliness, or stress during the holidays.
This holiday season, let’s look out for one another.

A thoughtful message , a check-in, or a simple “How are you?” can make a difference.

If you are in need of support, there are resources available:

❄️ 9-8-8 Su***de Crisis Helpline | Available 24/7
If you are thinking about su***de, or you’re worried about someone else, there is help and there is hope. Call or text 9-8-8 toll free, any time — lines are open 24/7/365. To learn more about 9-8-8 visit their website.

❄️ Hope for Wellness | 1-855-242-3310
Resource for Indigenous people. Available 24/7 in English, French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut.

❄️ Kids Help Phone | Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text CONNECT to 68686
Their service is completely confidential. You do not have to give them your name.

❄️ Black Youth Helpline | 1-833-294-8650
The BYH is a Canada-wide helpline that provides professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools.

❄️ Men’s, Women’s or All Genders Helpline | 2-1-1
Call 211 and ask for one of these lines. Each caller is given a 30-minute slot.

❄️ NS Peer Support Phone Service | 1-800-307-1686
This is a toll-free, non-crisis, available to all Nova Scotians 18 years of age or older.

❄️ Good2Talk | Call 1-833-292-3698 or Text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868.
Support services available to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia.

❄️ Togetherall | Togetherall.com
Togetherall is a digital mental health support service which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly.

12/16/2025

Right now, someone is struggling in silence — a parent, a spouse, a caregiver. Maybe someone you know… Maybe it’s you.

Loneliness is often one of the hardest parts of mental illness. But it doesn’t have to be part of the story.

Your donation to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia helps fund community programs that support mental health for individuals and the families who care for them.

Meet the Corbett family. With access to education and peer support at HOPE for Mental Health, they found guidance, understanding, and connection during a challenging time.

“We now feel better equipped to deal with the challenges of caring for our son.”

— The Corbett Family

Support this work by giving today or joining Team Hope as a monthly donor.

www.mentalhealthns.ca/support

[Image Description: A family stands together indoors in front of large windows with a snowy forest outside. They are dressed formally and smiling. A blue banner at the bottom features a quote about feeling better equipped to care for their son, attributed to the Corbett family.]

Hope for Mental Health

12/12/2025

Canadian winters can have a real impact on mental well‑being. Reduced sunlight and increased isolation can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the winter blues, and heightened feelings of anxiety or depression. Understanding these effects is an important step toward protecting your mental health during the colder months.

Helpful strategies include:

1. Light Therapy: Lamps that mimic natural sunlight can support mood and help regulate sleep cycles, especially for those experiencing SAD.

2. Physical Activity: Staying active—whether through skiing, snowshoeing, or simply walking outdoors—can boost energy and improve overall well‑being.

3. Social Connection: Regular meetups with friends, community groups, or social activities can help reduce feelings of isolation. 4.

4. Healthy Habits: Eating well, getting enough rest, and speaking with a healthcare professional about vitamin D if needed can all support mental wellness.

With this in mind, we want to highlight our Anchored Families One on one Peer Support program designed to help you stay connected, share your experiences in a supportive environment, and access tools that can guide you through the winter season.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this free service please use the QR code below to register or you can register on our website: Hope4mentalhealth.ca.

12/05/2025

Hello and happy Friday,

We received the following research opportunity from Allison Hancock at St. Francis Xavier University and wanted to share with you:

My name is Allison Hancock, and I am the Research Manager with the Research for Equitable Access to Mental Healthcare (REACH) Lab at StFX University. Under the leadership of Dr. Jill Murphy, Research Chair in Mental Health and Addictions, we’re working on a qualitative study to better understand what’s working—and where gaps exist—for rural Nova Scotians trying to access mental healthcare.

A key piece of making sure research and any future changes accurately reflect community needs is hearing directly from the people who have experienced the system themselves or supported someone who has. With this in mind, we are currently recruiting members for a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) to help guide this work. REACH Lab

12/04/2025

UPDATE 3 - 48 more! Please share and invite friends to like/follow our page. We are looking to hit 2000 followers by the end of the year. 🙂🙏🏼

UPDATE 2 - 50 to go!! 😍

UPDATE: 51 more to go 🎉

Almost there!! 52 more new followers needed to hit our goal of 2000 by the end of December! Share 🙂share 🙂share 🙂

With your help we are reaching more and more people who deal with mental illness in their families. We are helping to break the stigmas and shame that can accompany mental illness and addiction. You are not alone.

We have set a goal to be at 2000 followers by the end of the year and we need your help. We are confident that with your help we can get there! 🙂 Please take a minute to share our page or invite friends and family you feel could benefit from our programs.

12/03/2025

🌟 Yesterday, on Giving Tuesday, we were reminded once again of the incredible generosity that surrounds us. 💙

We want to take a heartfelt moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported our Community Living Program. 🙌 Your kindness, compassion, and commitment to strengthening our community at Hope For Mental Health have created a lasting impact that goes far beyond a single day of giving.

Through your support, our program has continued to serve individuals in meaningful and life changing ways. 🌱 It has allowed us to nurture connections, provide opportunities, and build a foundation of care that uplifts those who need it most. This year, we were especially honored to extend that spirit of giving by sharing the donations we collected with Hope Cottage 🏠, ensuring that the blessings of Giving Tuesday reached even further into the broader community.

Together, we are not only meeting immediate needs but also fostering compassion, resilience, and hope for the future. 🌈 Every act of generosity—big or small—helps us create opportunities for everyone to thrive, reminding us that when we come together, we can achieve extraordinary things. 💫

🙏 Thank you for standing with us, for believing in the power of community. ❤️

12/03/2025

✨ It’s not too late to make your gift! ✨

Dear Supporters,

🙏 Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we’re making incredible progress toward our GivingTuesday goal. Your kindness helps us continue our important work in the community, and we are deeply grateful.

⏰ If you haven’t made your donation yet, there’s still time!

And here’s something special: every gift made on December 2, 2025 will go directly to our Community Living Program 🏡, ensuring vital support for individuals and families who rely on these services.

💖 Your contribution today will help us reach even more people and create lasting impact where it’s needed most. Please consider joining us in this global day of giving by making your donation now at: https://www.hope4mentalhealth.ca/get-involved.html

🌍 Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this movement of generosity. Together, we can make a real difference.

With gratitude,

Hope for Mental Health Team

To continue to provide education and supportive programs, navigation, resources and advocacy through committees for people and families in Nova Scotia we need your support, there are many ways to give.