The Crisis Mental Health Working Group is lobbying the provincial government for stronger services in Pictou County for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.
The working group, comprised of representatives from the six Pictou County municipalities, met for the past three years with an aim of improving mental health crisis services in Pictou County.
Current members include Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan, New Glasgow Mayor Nancy Dicks, Municipality of Pictou County Warden Robert Parker, Town of Trenton Mayor Don Hussher, Town of Westville Councillor Meghan Bragg, and Town of Stellarton Councillor Bryan Knight.
The group met with staff from Nova Scotia Health’s Northern Zone, Aberdeen Hospital representatives and members of local communities who have had difficulties accessing crisis mental health services.
After listening to health officials and citizen concerns, the Crisis Mental Health Working Group is calling on the Nova Scotia Government to improve services in Pictou County by opening a separate access point that would have beds available as well as having professional mental health staff on call and/or in person, 24 hours a day, seven days a week who would be solely focused on helping people in a mental health crisis.
The group is set to meet with Nova Scotia’s Minister of Mental Health Brian Comer, Premier Tim Houston and Pictou County MLAs Pat Dunn and Karla MacFarlane in November.