**** NSHA Media Release
Nova Scotia Health highlights care options during severe weather
Nova Scotia Health facilities in the Northern, Central and Western Zones are all affected by the extreme rain. There are no significant infrastructure impacts at our sites, but we are working with other agencies to receive and care for people affected by flooding.
Given these pressures, road closures in many areas and law enforcement requests to avoid non-essential travel, Nova Scotia Health asks the public to limit visits to emergency departments except when in need of emergency care.
Call 911 if you experience a medical emergency.
For general health advice and information call 811, a service offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by experienced registered nurses.
Mobile primary care services are operating at Cobequid Community Health Centre and Soldiers Memorial Hospital this weekend. The Cobequid clinic will have mental health services on site Sunday as well. For more information visit: https://www.nshealth.ca/mobileprimarycareclinics
Primary care services are also available through some community pharmacies, if it is safe to travel. Please see details at: https://pans.ns.ca/cppc and https://innovationhub.nshealth.ca/projects/pharmacist-walk-in-clinic
The Mental Health and Addictions crisis line can also be reached 24/7 by calling 1-888-429-8167. Visit: https://mha.nshealth.ca/en
Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health and Addictions program (MHAP), has free e-Mental Health and Addictions tools available to all Nova Scotians. These tools include:
- Tranquility – Free support for people experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Tranquility can be completed at your own pace with the support of a coach.
- Mindwell U – free online support that takes just five minutes a day and can be accessed anywhere and on any device. This service is available in English and French.
- Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) – free and private online resource that includes interactive activities and videos for people having challenges with their mental health. This service is available in English and French.
- Gambling Support Network – online support for those experiencing gambling problems and/or harms.
- Wellness Together Canada – mental health and substance abuse support that contains free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed.
- Togetherall – free and safe online peer-to-peer mental health community that empowers individuals to anonymously seek and provide support 24/7. It is available to anyone 16 and up, providing an inclusive and supportive place to connect with others with real lived experience with common mental health concerns. To sign up go to togetherall.com and use your Nova Scotia postal code to register.
Access Wellness Nova Scotia is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families. Trained counsellors can help people manage stress, mild to moderate depression or anxiety, relationship issues, general mental health concerns, concerns related to alcohol and drug use, loss and more. Visit AccessWellnessNovaScotia.ca or call 1-833-691-2282 to make an appointment.
The Peer Support Telephone Service is available to all Nova Scotians 18 and up, experiencing mild mental health and/or substance use concerns or, who are feeling isolated, alone, anxious, distressed, or need someone to talk to who will listen with empathy and without judgment. The trained Peer Supporter will provide non-urgent social and emotional support, reassurance, and encouragement to callers, as well as information regarding community services. Call toll free at 1-800-307-1686.
For all closures, visit our temporary closure page: www.nshealth.ca/temporaryclosures.
