The impact of traumatic events on our mental health can be both immediate and long-lasting, and are different for everyone. For individuals, families and communities navigating grief, loss, and mental health challenges, community-based supports are essential for supporting mental well-being and building resilience.
Today, the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced an additional $2 million in federal funding for the Government of Nova Scotia and for Maggie's Place: A Resource Centre for Families Association, to strengthen community mental health supports.
The Honourable Brian Comer, Nova Scotia Minister of Addictions and Mental Health, also announced provincial funding of $1.5 million for the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association to support the continued delivery of grief and emotional wellness services, strengthening community partnerships and building capacity.
Maggie's Place has long supported the health and well-being of children and families in the Cumberland and Colchester Counties. Since receiving federal funding tied to the Mass Casualty Commission recommendations last year, it has delivered twenty-nine programs such as parent support groups and workshops, perinatal services, and playgroups for families, including in Hants County. These resources can help parents and caregivers manage daily challenges, promote wellbeing, cope with trauma, and build resilience for themselves and their children.
The federal funding provided to Nova Scotia supports mental health and wellness initiatives that complement the province's delivery of mental health care services.
This funding is in addition to the $18 million joint investment announced in April 2023 by the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia in response to the Mass Casualty Commission's final report. The Mass Casualty Commission, an independent public inquiry, examined the 2020 mass casualty in Nova Scotia and made a series of recommendations to help make communities safer. This additional investment reflects a shared commitment between the Government of Canada, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, and community organizations, to meet the evolving needs of the affected communities in meaningful and impactful ways.
