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Need help?

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PLEASE NOTE - IF YOU ARE AT RISK OF HARMING YOURSELF OR OTHERS, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY, OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.  

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  • If you simply need someone to talk to, we invite you to call the Nova Scotia Warm Line (toll free) at 833-927-6546.  Hours are Mondays to Thursdays, from 1-5pm.  

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  • Peer Support Nova Scotia is also available (toll free) at 1-800-307-1686.  Hours are Wednesdays to Fridays, from 5-11pm, and Saturdays and Sundays, from 11am to 11pm.  

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(Neither of these services is a crisis-line.  Both provide peer supports for Nova Scotians over the age of 18.  You will speak with people who have lived experiences with their own mental health, and who have been trained to listen and facilitate your own exploration of your concerns.  They will refrain from offering direct advice.  Expect your call to last about 20-30 minutes).  

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  • If you have concerns for your mental health that need more than a conversation or two, you should contact the Nova Scotia Health Mental Health & Addictions Intake line (toll free) at 1-855-922-1122.  Hours are Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30am to 4:30pm; Tuesdays until 8pm.  You are able to leave a voicemail on weekends.  All calls are answered by trained social workers who will listen to your concerns and guide you toward the most appropriate help for your needs.  Expect your call to last at least 30 minutes or more.  

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  • If you find yourself needing more immediate assistance for your mental health issues, you should contact the Provincial Mental Health & Addictions Crisis line (toll free), at 1-888-429-8167.  It is available 24/7.  

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  • Kids Help Phone is available 24/7, (toll free) at 1-800-668-6868.  You can also text CONNECT to 686868.  

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  • For crisis response, and more information, visit Talk Suicide Canada, or call (toll free) 1-833-456-4566.  

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  • Maybe you would prefer to browse some online mental health and addiction support tools - NS Mental Health & Addictions has lots of great completely free and confidential options for you to choose from - https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/emhatools.  They are available 24/7, and are intended for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health or substance use concerns.  (Again, if you desire more immediate assistance, please call the numbers above.  And if you feel you need an appointment with a professional service, please call the Intake line above).  â€‹

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  • Nova Scotia 211 is a resource that can connect you to government and community-based organizations all around the province.  

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  • As a vital part of your on-going well-being, it is important for you to have a family physician.  If you currently do not have one, please register at https://needafamilypractice.nshealth.ca/.  When Nova Scotia Health is contacted by a primary care practice that is accepting new patients, they send them the list of people on the Registry for that community. The practice will accept new patients from the Registry based on their capacity at that time.  

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  • 811 Nova Scotia is also available for you to speak with a registered nurse for health care advice (including mental health).  It is available 24/7.  

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  • You can also visit HealthyNS.ca for free online wellness sessions, as well as to access information on healthy living.  

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  • Access Wellness is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families.

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  • Smoking is a common way of coping with mental illnesses.  Maybe you want to quit using tobacco - Tobacco Free Nova Scotia is a great place to start.  

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  • Al-Anon Maritimes can help you with any alcohol issues you may be dealing with.  

  • They also have a Teen Corner for teens affected by someone else's alcoholism.  

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  • Alcoholics Anonymous is also available on the South Shore (Shelburne County is part of District 10).  

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  • Perhaps gambling is an issue for you or a loved one.  Gambling Support Network is a resource for your to consider.  

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  • The Recovery Support Centre is a welcoming space that provides education, recovery and harm reduction support, along with one on one support and group treatment for people struggling with substance use and/or gambling concerns.

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  • Roseway Hospital in Shelburne is a site for an Opioid Recovery Program.  The program offers opioid maintenance therapy and programming to individuals with an addiction to opioids.  Call 902-365-1701, ext. 1574.  

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  • The Atlantic Recovery Group of Over-eaters Anonymous has an online group that provides support to individuals who experience compulsive eating. Group meets weekly online.

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  • Additionally, Eating Disorders Nova Scotia is a community-based organization that offers support to anyone impacted by an eating disorder.

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  • The IWK Health Centre provides supports (including mental health) for children and youth up to age 19, as well as their families.  

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  • More youth and family support can be found in local schools through SchoolsPlus.  

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  • The Tri-County Women's Centre provides support for women and girls.  Also provides free Naloxone kits and trains individuals on how to respond to a suspected opioid poisoning.  â€‹

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  • ElevateHER Mental Health Support Services Canada provides individual and group mental health support services to those who identify as female and their prospective families.  They have a Shelburne office.  

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  • Rally Point Retreat, in Sable River, provides a quiet, safe, and relaxing, rural setting as a respite for essential services members in treatment for Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to regroup themselves and reconnect with their families, to prevent further collateral damage from traumatic events.

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  • The People in Pain Network provides enhanced quality of life for people living with persistent pain through self-management, education and peer support.  

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  • Survivors of Abuse Recovering (S.O.A.R) provides peer counselling, education, and peer support services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and helps them access resources.

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  • University students in Nova Scotia can get support from Good2Talk.  You can contact a professional counsellor 24/7 by calling 1-833-292-3698.  And you can contact a volunteer crisis responder 24/7 by texting GOOD2TALKNS to 686868.  

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YOUR MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!!  It's okay to not be okay!  Sometimes you just need a bit of down time to recover; and other times you need a little help.  We hope that some of these resources will be a good starting point for you (whether you need them for yourself, or for someone you care about).  

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