Increased support for patients with substance use concerns expands to Halifax Infirmary

Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Program is launching a new service that is helping patients at the Halifax Infirmary get better care.

Nova Scotia’s first inpatient Addiction Medicine Consult Service launched this week at the Halifax Infirmary, site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre. Through this new service, physicians providing care in the hospital’s inpatient units and emergency department can get advice and support from an addiction medicine specialist for patients with substance use concerns.

“Addiction is a complex disease and treatment can take many forms,” said Brian Comer, Minister of Addictions and Mental Health. “This new service – provided by an experienced and highly specialized clinical team – helps some of the most vulnerable in our community get the health care they need. It is yet another example of how we’re leveraging the expertise that exists in this province to deliver mental health and addictions care to Nova Scotians.”

The service is supported by a multidisciplinary team of addiction medicine physicians, a registered nurse, social worker, administrative assistant and peer support worker.

“In Halifax and in communities across Canada, health care professionals are relentlessly working to improve care and reduce stigma for people who use substances,” said Ya’ara Saks, federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. “The Government of Canada is committed to supporting them and innovative programs like this one that will help amplify the experience and expertise that already exists in the community to save more lives, and get people the help they need.”

The team at the Halifax Infirmary will offer in-person patient engagement and assessment, treatment guidance, and care recommendations to the patient’s lead physician and support team. The service can also provide safer-use recommendation and supplies, take-home naloxone kits and aid the patient’s transition to community supports upon hospital discharge.

“This service will help people with substance use concerns navigate the health system and articulate their needs,” said Dr. Dave Martell, physician lead, addiction medicine, Mental Health and Addictions Program, Nova Scotia Health. “The team at the Halifax Infirmary will help provide non-judgmental, evidence-informed care to vulnerable patients, along with providing mentorship and learning by having someone comfortable with talking about, and managing substance use to help guide the support team.”

This new service will be available Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for physicians to access on behalf of patients.

This service grew out of needs identified through the province-wide addiction medicine telephone consult support service for physicians. The telephone support service will continue as a service for physicians across the province.

The in-person support will help improve access to evidence-based substance use and addiction care for hospital patients living with substance use harms in acute care settings. The service is funded in partnership with the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, and Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program.

Photos of the inpatient Addiction Medicine Consult Service team are available here.

Other resources:

• Nova Scotians can call the Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service Line (toll-free) 1-855-922-1122 to be connected to a clinician Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Intake Service provides triage, screening and navigation for programs offered through Mental Health and Addictions Program at Nova Scotia Health (and IWK). This line has voicemail only on evenings, and weekends.
   
• Access Wellness Nova Scotia is a free single-session supportive counselling service for individuals, couples or families. Trained counsellors can help people manage stress, mild to moderate depression or anxiety, relationship issues, general mental health concerns, concerns related to alcohol and drug use, loss and more. Visit AccessWellnessNovaScotia.ca or call 1-833-691-2282 to make an appointment.
   
• The Peer Support Telephone Service is available to all Nova Scotians 18 and up, experiencing mild mental health and/or substance use concerns or, who are feeling isolated, alone, anxious, distressed, or need someone to talk to who will listen with empathy and without judgment. The trained Peer Supporter will provide non-urgent social and emotional support, reassurance, and encouragement to callers, as well as information regarding community services. Call toll free at 1-800-307-1686.
   
• Recovery Support Centres are available across the province, and are welcoming space that provides education, recovery and harm reduction support, along with one on one support and group treatment for people struggling with substance use and/or gambling concerns. The centre can link people to care based on their individual needs. This could include inpatient withdrawal management, opioid-use disorder treatment, community mental health and addictions programs and other supports available within communities. For more information and to find a location nearest you visit https://mha.nshealth.ca/en/services/recovery-support-centre.
   
• The Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or someone concerned about them. Call (toll-free) 1-888-429-8167.

Visit the Mental Health and Addictions Program website, http://MHAhelpNS.ca, to learn more about our services, resources, and eMental Health and Addictions tools.