Support for communities impacted by the April 2020 mass casualty

Health, wellness, grief and bereavement supports are available for Cumberland, Colchester and Hants Counties.

Nova Scotia experienced an unimaginable tragedy. To help those who were impacted by the April 2020 mass casualty, government is providing immediate support to people in Cumberland, Colchester and Hants Counties, as recommended by the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report.

Supports available

Supports include:

  • trauma counselling
  • mental health and grief support
  • family resource centres and other supports for children, youth and families
  • social workers
  • financial support for survivors
  • a community outreach worker
  • a community engagement team

211

Call 211 for help finding the supports you need. Community resource navigators will connect you with someone who can help or just listen.

Community outreach worker

The community outreach worker travels to communities to provide mental wellness supports to individuals and groups in Cumberland, Colchester and Hants Counties. They also help connect people to other supports, including clinical mental healthcare.

Supports for children

Health and wellness services for children and youth are available in the community through SchoolsPlus and Adolescent Outreach Services.

Community engagement

Nova Scotia Health is creating a community engagement plan to make sure that Nova Scotians impacted by the mass casualty can help design mental health and wellness, grief and bereavement services to support the needs in affected counties. Initial consultations with communities about their needs occurred in May and June 2023.

Feedback summary from community engagement sessions

Help for communities outside of Cumberland, Colchester and Hants Counties

For non-crisis support, Nova Scotians can call the Mental Health and Addictions Program.

Call toll-free: 1-855-922-1122
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Evening hours: Tuesday 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm

New support programs

The provincial and federal governments are taking action to provide additional mental health, grief and bereavement services in Cumberland, Colchester and Hants Counties, as recommended in the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report. Additional information to come.