Funding for Community Mental Health Projects

Nova Scotians who use mental health services will benefit from an additional $129,000 in funding for community-based projects.

"This government is committed to building a more responsive mental health system," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Health. "These projects will involve and benefit those who have mental illness within their own communities."

Since 2002 the Department of Health has been funding year-long local projects that involve people who use mental health services.

The five projects receiving funding this year are:

• Mental Health Action Research Connection Group in Halifax: $22,800 to provide training in, and evaluation of, participatory research, and to develop a peer-advocacy network;
• Take Charge in Cumberland County: $13,600 to establish a 10- week Take Charge mood group for women with mood disorders, and a follow-up self-help group;
• Schizophrenia Society, Antigonish Chapter: $32,917 to educate the community on mental health and illness, educate and train mental health consumers to participate in mental health service planning, decision making and evaluation; promote self-help activities, and help schools to provide a suicide intervention program;
• Crossroads in Sydney: $40,000 to open a laundry service and café that will be owned and operated by mental health consumers through a not-for-profit co-operative;
• Canadian Mental Health Association, Colchester East Hants Branch, Illusions (art gallery) Project: $20,000 to develop a business proposal to open and operate an art gallery in Truro that would profile artwork created by mental health consumers from across the province.

"People in Antigonish with a mental illness know the need to decrease stigma and firmly plant in people's minds the truth about mental illness," said Fran Nunn of the Guysborough- Antigonish-Strait Consumer Action Project. "This grant will not only serve as a means of sowing that truth, but will also provide people with a mental illness with the chance to educate, based on their personal experiences."

Heather Wood of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Colchester East Hants Branch, said that the Illusions Project will help to ensure that the hard work of mental health consumers is accepted and acknowledged.

"When we wrote this proposal, we thought that it was a pie in the sky kind of idea," said Ms. Wood. "This kind of project boosts self-esteem and recognizes diverse abilities. There is nothing like this project anywhere in Nova Scotia. I think everyone involved will flourish in one way or another."

This year, the Department of Health received 13 applications for funding from community groups across the province. Applications were screened by mental health staff and consumers, and chosen by the Department of Health. Each finalist must submit reports every six months and complete a formal project evaluation.

"These projects help remove barriers that mental health consumers face daily," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Community mental health projects would not be possible without the dedication of many volunteers across the province. Their contribution is invaluable and helps us move closer to building a brighter, more inclusive future."