One in Five

Make a difference and be counted. Help us move towards a Mental Health Strategy for Nova Scotia.

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What Nova Scotians are Saying

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Stories

Not scary ill, just ill
Dear MLA's
In Memory of Jenna
He was 47 Years Old

Please Take Action!

This initiative will only work - and the government will only listen - if THOUSANDS of Nova Scotians speak up. Please choose from the following and lend your voice!

Know the Facts

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The prevalence of mental illnesses is much higher in long term care facilities (60%) than the community (20%).

Supporting the 1 in 5 seniors with mental health concerns is a critical issue: by 2015, for the first time in our nation's history, Canadians over 65 years will outnumber children.

In 2011 the Baby Boomer generation will officially begin to turn 65 with the proportion of elderly, as well as the number of cases of dementia, doubling in the next 25 years.

Mental illnesses affect all Nova Scotians whether personally, or through a family member, friend, neighbor or colleague.

Less than 5% of the health care budget in Nova Scotia goes towards the treatment of all forms of mental illness, including depression and substance abuse.

Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. (source: World Health Organization)

18% of our young adults aged 15-24 are experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse problem. Due to underfunding and stigma, only 20% of those receive services. (source: www.teenmentalhealth.ca)

Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.

By 2020, mental disorders will account for 15% of the entire global burden of disease and depression will disable more people than AIDS, war and traffic accidents combined. (source: World Health Organization)

Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds. (source: Health Canada: A Report on Mental Illnesses in Canada - October 2002)

Mental illnesses are costly to the individual, the family, the health care system and the community.

Mental illness is costing the Canadian economy a staggering $51-billion a year.
(source: Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions)

Each day in Canada, 500,000 workers are off sick with mental-health problems.
(source: Business and Economic Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions)

The total annual cost for the country of mental health and addictions is likely close to $100 billion.
(Source: "Every Door is the Right Door" Ontario MOH&LTC Discussion Paper)

Understanding the Need

One in five people experience a mental illness every year. That's roughly 200,000 Nova Scotians. The system to support these citizens and their loved ones is not working - and we have been silent for too long. This site is for everyone who wants to lend their voice to the growing number of citizens calling for the development of a strategy for mental health in Nova Scotia.