More Mental Health Programs Get Funding

Nova Scotians with mental illness are receiving more support in their communities with an additional $2 million for district health authorities' and IWK Health Centre mental health budgets.

Health Minister Angus MacIsaac announced today, Nov. 4, the programs and services receiving the funding, which is part of the 2003-04 Department of Health budget announced earlier this year.

"This government has a plan to improve mental health programs across the province. We're putting funding in the hands of health districts, so people with mental health issues have access to the services they need, closer to home," said Mr. MacIsaac.

District health authorities and the IWK Health Centre made proposals to the Department of Health for the funding increase. The money is being allocated for priorities for mental health as outlined in Your Health Matters. Those funding priorities include: -- additional mental health staff for child and youth programs in seven districts; -- additional staff for crisis response, emergency services and early response programs in four districts; -- new case managers for youth and adult community programs in Cumberland and Pictou counties; -- a new reproductive psychiatry service in the Capital region (a partnership between Capital Health and IWK Health Centre); -- a new navigation service for youth mental health patients at the IWK Health Centre; -- a new youth sex offender treatment program.

"It is very good news for the IWK to receive support for programs that will make it possible for young people to receive the help they need. Our new programs will help young people not only access mental health services, but enable them to better navigate the health system and the justice system as they are assessed and treated," said Sue Mercer, interim vice-president, IWK child and adolescent mental health.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to provide additional resources to the child and adolescent team and enhance community- based supports as well as prevention and mental health promotion programs for children and youth," said South Shore Health's vice- president of community health Alice Leverman. South Shore Health is adding two mental health professionals, a clinical social worker or psychologist, and a child community support worker to its staff.

One-time projects receiving funding include:

• $19,000 for training in psychosocial rehabilitation for staff in Southwest Health district;
• $37,000 to develop a consumer participation program in Annapolis Valley district;
• $70,000 for Dalhousie University department of psychiatry to expand a primary to Grade 6 education program called Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies to English-speaking students in Nova Scotia earlier. The program had been pilot tested with French-speaking students and their teachers in Cheticamp.

The districts were informed of their approved program enhancements in August 2003. Many of the positions involved are currently being posted.

The Cape Breton District Health Authority will not receive a portion of this funding. On Feb. 24, it was announced that this district would receive additional funding to enhance services to children and youth who require intensive community-based treatment and case management.