Ottawa – Psychologically traumatic events like the 2020 mass casualty event in Nova Scotia can have both immediate and lasting consequences for the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. To support those affected on their paths to healing, the Government of Canada is investing in community-based solutions to help increase mental health, grief and bereavement services in Nova Scotia, as recommended by the Mass Casualty Commission.
Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $700,000 in funding for Maggie’s Place: A Resource Centre for Families Association, a community-based organization that has supported families with young children in Nova Scotia’s Cumberland and Colchester Counties for the last thirty years. This funding will help support the delivery of family-centred health promotion programs that address the unique needs of individuals and communities. These programs will include parent support groups, educational workshops and perinatal mental health programs.
The funding for Maggie’s Place is part of the $18-million joint investment announced last spring by the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia following recommendations in the final report of the Mass Casualty Commission. The Mass Casualty Commission is an independent public inquiry created to examine the 2020 mass casualty in Nova Scotia and make meaningful recommendations to help keep communities safer. Through this investment, the Government of Canada is also working with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and various community partners to support the healing, recovery and resilience of the affected communities.
“The ongoing mental health impacts following the devastating loss of life in Nova Scotia in 2020 cannot be understated. Community-led programs that offer support for grief and bereavement, such as those offered by Maggie’s Place, are so important as communities continue to navigate the complexities of grief. These services help foster collective resilience, and represent a step forward in our joint commitment with Nova Scotia to address the recommendations outlined in the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report.”- Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health