In the complex tapestry of mental health, one thread stands out as a beacon of hope and resilience: peer support.

Beyond the clinical settings and therapeutic interventions, the simple act of individuals supporting one another has proven to be a powerful force in the journey towards mental well-being.

At the heart of peer support is the unique ability to foster genuine connection through shared understanding. 

This shared experience provides the opportunity for people to feel seen and heard, reducing the often-isolating nature of mental health struggles.

Rosemary MacDonald had her first kidney-related surgery at the age of nine and has been a chronic kidney patient since then. At 17 she received her first kidney transplant from her mother. 

The kidney lasted 14 years and then she had to start dialysis. 

Dialysis is a lifesaving procedure where the patient’s blood is circulated through a machine which acts as an artificial kidney to remove waste and excess fluids. The cleansed blood is recirculated back into the body.

Nova Scotia Health Public Health is warning about an increase in opioid poisoning as we head into the holidays.

Evidence suggests much of the increase may be due to fentanyl – a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl may be added to illicit drugs during their production without a customer’s knowledge. This risk of contamination is not limited to opioids and is high for all drug types including stimulants such as cocaine or MDMA and benzodiazepines such as Xanax.

Sarah Wagner has seen a lot of changes come and go in her 14 years as a registered nurse. So she was skeptical when her unit at Cape Breton Regional Hospital agreed to test a new daily routine that would set daily priorities for patients on Unit 3B. 

Community health boards (CHBs) across Nova Scotia want to hear from you!

As part of their community health planning process, the 37 CHBs are asking people to identify what affects the health and well-being of their communities. CHBs are volunteer groups that support a health promotion or population health-based approach to wellness.

The Holiday season can be a time for joy, celebration, and connection. For many people, the holidays are also a difficult time of year, including those who are grieving.  

Feelings of grief can be especially challenging during the holidays, whether you have experienced a recent loss or continue to grapple with a loss that occurred long ago. To manage our holiday grief, we might skip our regular traditions, feel uncomfortable in the presence of others, or feel unsure how to participate while dealing with the strong emotions of grief.  

During the pandemic, Nova Scotia Health Public Health and leaders from Black community organizations began meeting regularly to ensure support and local access to COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Throughout 2023 this work has been transitioning to support a longer-term strategy with a focus on the importance of vaccination as a part of a healthy lifestyle for Black people in Nova Scotia.

Public Health supports access to COVID-19 and influenza immunization, as well as COVID-19 testing across the province. To help ensure all Nova Scotians have access to these important services, we will be holding testing and immunization clinics next week. All upcoming clinics can be found online at www.nshealth.ca/PHMU.

Nova Scotia Health, Northern Healthy Connections, and Cumberland Homelessness and Housing Support Association are partnering to host a second drop-in community wellness event in Springhill on Friday, Dec. 15, to provide support and share information on substance use harm reduction strategies.

In recent months, Springhill families have lost loved ones to drug overdoses. The groups are coming together to share information about their programs and support with community members and to discuss ways to connect. 

Earlier this year, Dr. Andrea Mossman was awarded Dalhousie Family Medicine’s Exceptional Teacher Award for her contributions to teaching and learning. She was nominated by Dr. Angela Tsai, who Dr. Mossman supervised for a two-week community rotation during her medical degree at Dalhousie University.