Mental Health Grants Help Build Stronger Communities

People living with mental illness will benefit from more access to health programs in their communities with the help of new provincial funding.

"Getting people involved in their community is a vital part of a person's recovery from mental illness," said Jim Morton, on behalf of David Wilson, Minister of Health and Wellness. "These grants give people living with mental illness the financial help and support they need to make a difference in their daily lives and the lives of others facing the same challenges."

Consumer-led Initiative Grants are available to groups addressing mental illness, to help them establish and run programs in their communities.

Evangeline Recreation Society, one of the grant recipients, will use the funds to strengthen its non-profit organization, Consumer Action Network. The funds will be used to create a micro loan program to provide financial assistance members, create jobs within the network, and help purchase a new van.

"We are very excited to receive this grant and we look forward to being able to provide more resources to our members," said Candy O'Brien, Evangeline Club co-ordinator. "The Evangeline Recreation Society and the Consumer Action Network are modest, little operations, doing the little things that make a big difference."

This year the Department of Health and Wellness will give $146,000 in grants to seven projects. The recipients are:

• Clare Organization Representing Disabilities, Clare, Digby Co., $12,000
• Schizophrenia Society Nova Scotia, Dartmouth, $17,610
• Laing House, Halifax, $27,000
• Healthy Minds Co-operative, Halifax, $28,420
• Canadian Mental Health Association Halifax-Dartmouth Branch, $12,500
• Self-help Connection, Halifax, $32,470
• Evangeline Recreation Society, Kentville, $16,000

The funds are distributed to the groups through a community organization, and the groups often have access to the organization's staff for support.

In addition to the consumer-led initiative grants, the province recently released its first-ever mental health and addictions strategy, Together We Can: The Plan to Improve Mental Health and Addictions Care for Nova Scotians.