**** CNS Media Release
More Mental Health Supports for Marginalized, Underserved Nova Scotians
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A Halifax clinic is expanding to meet the growing demand for mental health and addictions services.
The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic offers marginalized and underserved communities free mental health counselling, individual and group therapy and assessments.
“Community-based organizations like this one play an important role in delivering much-needed mental health services to Nova Scotians,” said Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health. “The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic is doing great work already, and additional government funding will help them do more of it. This kind of partnership is an important part of our work to implement universal mental health and addictions care in Nova Scotia.”
A one-time grant of $425,000 from the Office of Addictions and Mental Health (OAMH) will be used to add two new full-time staff to the team and offer more services to more people. As part of the funding agreement, the clinic will pilot the use of service codes by a community-based organization as part of an insured service program.
The low-barrier, culturally competent and 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly clinic provides services to people with multiple challenges whose needs are currently underserved by other systems and programs. No appointment or referral is necessary.
The clinic offers counselling in areas including:
– complex trauma stemming from severe abuse, neglect, racial violence and other adverse childhood experiences
– patterns of abuse in relationships, including counselling for people involved in criminal justice proceedings
– attachment and development
– sexual behaviour problems
– the use of violence in relationships
– sexual and intimate partner victimization
– complex and intersecting mental health, substance use, addiction and social challenges.
OAMH provides one-time and multi-year grants to community-based organizations to support mental health and wellness across Nova Scotia, including services, supports and initiatives to prevent and reduce the risk of suicide.
Quotes:
“What a great opportunity to help shape the future of mental health service delivery in Nova Scotia. Staff and students at The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic are ideally situated to inform policy in ways that prioritize marginalized and underserved groups. Universal access cannot mean one size fits all and we are committed to that shining through in this pilot.”
— James Owen Dubé, Executive Director, The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic
Quick Facts:
– The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic runs a teaching clinic with university students from social work and counselling programs
– OAMH provided $4.9 million in one-time grants in the 2023-24 fiscal year
– OAMH currently funds 22 multi-year grants and service level agreements for community-based organizations totaling more than $15.6 million
Additional Resources:
The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic: http://www.thepeoplescounsellingclinic.ca/
For non-crisis support, people needing treatment and care for mental health and addictions can contact the mental health and addictions intake service at 1-855-922-1122 to be matched with appropriate services
Programs and supports for mental health, wellness and addictions: https://novascotia.ca/mental-health-and-wellbeing/
Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare: https://actionforhealth.novascotia.ca
