Mental health support is just a phone call away

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Whether it’s your first year at university or you’re a returning student, maintaining good mental health is crucial for a successful academic experience. But navigating the system can be challenging at the best of times.

We often end up minimizing our mental health needs because it takes more time and energy to find the right help.

It doesn’t have to be that daunting. Here is a list of local resources in Halifax to help you with your search when times get tough.

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 EMERGENCY RESOURCES
Crises can take many forms, but they all require immediate attention. That’s something drop-in health services don’t provide. If you find yourself in any type of crisis situation dial 911, call campus security or dial one of the following emergency resources:

Mobile Crisis Team 902-429-8167 Avalon SANE response line 902-425-0122 Hospital emergency departments 902-473-1510 (Halifax Infirmary) 902-465-8300 (Dartmouth General)

 HOSPITAL-BASED PROGRAMS
Ongoing research shows there’s more success in a balanced approach to mental health care, in which hospital and community work together. The programs and care facilities listed in these categories should be seen as partners in providing care for mental health issues:

Community Mental Health Program Bayers Road Centre, suite 109 7071 Bayers Road 902-454-1400

Canadian Mental Health Association 2020 Gottingen Street, suite 100 902-455-5445

Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building 5909 Veterans Memorial Lane 902-473-2976

 COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Providing alternative support in addition to the mainstream options listed above, community resources cater to specific groups or illnesses. They also offer a variety of programs and events aimed at strengthening mental health and connecting community members:

Self-Help Connection

63 King Street, Dartmouth 902-466-2011 selfhelpconnection.ca

Halifax Sexual Health Centre 6009 Quinpool Road, suite 201 902-455-9656 hshc.ca

Healthy Minds Cooperative 45 Alderney Drive, suite 200 902-404-3504 healthyminds.ca

Shambhala Centre 1084 Tower Road 902-420-1118 halifax.shambhala.org

Laing House 1225 Barrington Street 902-425-9018 lainghouse.org

Avalon Sexual Assault Centre 1526 Dresden Row, suite 401 902-422-4240 avaloncentre.ca

  STUDENT/ATHLETE RESOURCES
On-campus counseling and student health services are available for all students and the wait time is usually far less than that of a professional health service off campus. It can also be comforting to have someone to talk to who understands your specific situation. If you are a student athlete, then your needs may vary slightly from those of your peers. Both Dal and Saint Mary’s have programs in place to help athletes receive the support they need:

SMU counselling centre Student Centre, fourth floor 923 Robie Street 902-420-5615 counseling@smu.ca

Support for SMU students—Morneau Sheppell 855-649-8641 mystudentsupport.com

SMU Student Health Services Student centre, 4th Floor 923 Robie Street, Halifax 902-420-5611 studenthealthappointments@smu.ca

Here for Peers: student athlete peer mentorship program (SMU) Here4Peers@gmail.com

Dalhousie counselling/student health services LeMarchant Place, second floor 1246 LeMarchant Street 902-494-2081 recepcps@dal.ca

DAL SAMHI (Student Athlete Mental Health Initiative) samhi.ca Dalhousiesamhi@gmail.com