**** NSHA Media Release
24/7 response continues through the holidays for those who have experienced sexual assault or need to access mental health and addictions services
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program continues to provide response over the holidays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week for those who have experienced sexual assault within the past seven days.
The SANE program offers the following supports and services:
– Supportive care
– Medical examination
– Forensic examination
– Collection and storage of forensic evidence (up to six months) if the victim/survivor is unable or not ready to proceed with a police investigation immediately but would like to consider the option to do so later
– Testimony in a court of law, if requested by the court
– Follow-up call for victims/survivors
– Telephone response line for immediate sexual assault information and support
– Referral to resources
For information on how to access support through the SANE program, including contact information, please visit www.nshealth.ca/sane.
Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service is available Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., with extended hours to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays toll-free at 1-855-922-1122.
Anyone can self-refer to our programs and speak to a trained mental health and addictions clinician that will help match you to the best care and support to meet your needs. A referral can also be made on the person’s behalf by their doctor, other health care professionals, a community agency, or by a family member.
Nova Scotia Health also encourages people, or someone they care about, who feel they require immediate crisis support anywhere in the province at any time to call the Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Crisis Line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week toll-free at 1-888-429-8167. People will be connected to a mental health crisis clinician who can help provide in-the-moment support to someone experiencing a crisis, and can guide people in the next steps if further support is required.
The Mental Health and Addictions website contains information, resources and free eMental Health tools available 24/7 at MHAHelpNS.ca
Additional resources:
– 211 Nova Scotia – NS 211 offers 24/7 connection by phone, text, email, or online search tool to a variety of resources, programs and services in your community.
– 211 Sexual Assault Services: https://ns.211.ca/search/?query=sexual+assault&location=&x=0&y=0
– Domestic violence resources through Transition House Association of Nova Scotia (THANS), offering a range of services and supports to women and their families experiencing violence: https://thans.ca
– Access to free 24/7 communal shelter and basic necessities.
– Crisis line 1-855-225-0220 (call or text).
– Advocacy and court accompaniment.
– Counseling and outreach services.
– Nova Scotia Domestic Violence Resource Centre: https://www.nsdomesticviolence.ca
– If a neighbour, friend, or family member needs help, call or text toll-free 1-855-225-0220 for confidential expert advice on how to help someone you think may be in a situation of violence (available 24/7), or contact your local shelter organization.
– Call 911 if you are in an emergency.
