Larry O'Keefe

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Nova Scotia Division (CMHA-NS), is one of the Nova Scotia’s longest-standing mental health charities and a trusted leader in advancing mental health and wellness.

We believe that supporting mental health extends beyond treating illness — it’s about fostering environments where people can be well and stay well.

Guided by the social determinants of health, we provide housing support and trustee services, employment support, suicide prevention training, peer support programs, and mental health education to thousands of Nova Scotians every year.

In 2024 alone, thanks to our donors, our programs made a tangible difference in the lives of Nova Scotians:

• 1,814 people gained tools to better understand their own mental health and support those around them through our education and training programs.
• 705 participants developed the skills and confidence to recognize when someone may be at risk of suicide and step in with support through our Communities Addressing Suicide Together program.
• 249 individuals accessed peer support services, finding strength and hope by connecting with others who have walked a similar path.
• 213 individuals and families received housing support through Project H.O.P.E., giving them stability, security, and a foundation for better mental health.
• 36 Nova Scotians received personalized employment support through the At Work program, opening the door to independence, dignity, and brighter futures.

In partnership with our independently governed branches in Halifax-Dartmouth, Colchester-East Hants, and Southwest Nova Scotia, we promote resilience, recovery, and wellness by reducing stigma, amplifying the voices of those with lived experience, and advocating for equitable access to mental health and substance use supports.

As part of CMHA’s national federation, we are connected to a coast-to-coast-to-coast network of branches and divisions united by a shared mission and brand: mental health for all.

Présente dans plus de 330 collectivités réparties dans chaque province et au Yukon, l’ACSM œuvre en défense des droits et offre des programmes et des ressources qui contribuent à prévenir les problèmes de santé mentale et les troubles mentaux ainsi qu’à soutenir le rétablissement et la résilience afin de permettre à tous les Canadiens et à toutes les Canadiennes de s’épanouir pleinement.