Mental health and wellbeing

You’re not alone. Support for mental health, addiction and wellbeing is available for children, youth and adults.

It’s important to get help if you or someone you know needs support for mental health, addiction or wellbeing. Resources, helplines, support groups, websites and counsellors are available to help you.

If you have a pre-existing mental health condition or addiction, it’s important to continue with your treatment. Be aware of new or worsening symptoms and reach out for help and support.

You can also visit the Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program to find mental health and addictions professionals who provide support, programs and services for Nova Scotians across the province.

Helplines

211

If you have concerns about your safety and wellbeing, or the safety of others, you can call the Men's HelplineWomen's Helpline or All Genders Helpline. The helplines are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Community resource navigators will connect you with someone who can help or just listen.

Call toll-free: 211

811

For non-emergency advice and information about mental health and addictions, call 811.

988: Suicide Crisis Helpline

The 988: Suicide Crisis Helpline provides urgent, live, trauma-informed support by phone and text 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Good2Talk Nova Scotia

Good2Talk Nova Scotia provides support for university and college students.

Call toll-free: 1-833-292-3698

Text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868

Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is a national helpline for young people between the ages of 5 and 20. Confidential and anonymous support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can phone to speak with a trained counsellor. You can also text to reach a trained volunteer crisis responder.

Call toll-free: 1-800-668-6868

Text CONNECT to 686868

Peer Support Phone Service

The Peer Support Phone Service provides a safe space to connect with peer supporters who have personal experience with mental health and substance use challenges.

Call toll-free: 1-800-307-1686

Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line

If you’re experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or are concerned about someone who is, the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call toll-free: 1-888-429-8167

Services and community resources

Access Wellness

Access Wellness provides a single session of 1-to-1 counselling to help people dealing with mental health concerns (like anxiety, job loss, grief, relationship issues and substance use). Counselling sessions can be online, by phone or in person in Sydney, Halifax, Kentville or New Glasgow. You can call the support team to book an appointment.

Call toll-free: 1-833-691-2282 (7 days a week, 8:30 am to 11:00 pm)

Grief and bereavement services

Grief and bereavement services are available to the families and friends of patients referred to palliative care.

Mental health and addictions services

If you or a family member needs help, you can self-refer to a mental health or addictions clinic, service or program through the Nova Scotia Health Authority or IWK Health Centre.

Call toll-free: 1-855-922-1122 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and evening hours Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm)

Online support

First responders’ mental health

Mental health resources for first responders and their families, employers and colleagues.

HealthyMindsNS

HealthyMindsNS provides online mental health support for university and college students.

MindWell-U

MindWell-U is a free 30-day mindfulness challenge that helps lower stress and improve wellbeing. It takes 5 minutes a day.

PSPNET

PSPNET is a free, confidential therapy program for first responders and others in the public safety field.

Togetherall

Togetherall provides free, online mental health and wellbeing support. If you’re 16 or older, you can share experiences in a safe, anonymous space. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To join, select ‘My area is registered’ and enter your Nova Scotia postal code to create an account.

Tranquility

Tranquility provides online coaching and skill development for people dealing with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.