Mental Health Mobile Crisis Line upgrades

Nov. 14, 2017

HALIFAX, N.S. - Nova Scotia’s Mental Health Crisis Telephone Line is getting upgrades this week that will allow callers to wait on the line for the next available crisis intervenor should they not get through immediately, rather than leaving a message.

During the time of the switchover, between 8 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, all callers should use the toll free number: 1-888-429-8167. Outside of that period, callers from the Halifax Regional Municipality area can call either the toll free number or the local number 902-429-8167.

Previously, callers who did not immediately get through to a crisis intervenor were able to leave a message and would receive a call back within 30 minutes.

The Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team has also added to its staff to enhance service and better ensure callers are able to speak a crisis intervenor as quickly as possible.

The Nova Scotia Mental Health Crisis Telephone Line is delivered by the Mobile Crisis Team. This provincial service provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress. 

The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support callers who present with suicidal thoughts, self-harming thoughts or behaviors, overwhelming anxiety, difficulty coping with distress, psychotic or distorted thinking, depression, substance use difficulties or any other self-identified mental health concerns. Crisis is self-defined by the individual calling for support. 

The crisis line also supports families, friends, community agencies and others to manage mental health crisis through education, outreach and consultation.

In 2016 the Mental Health Crisis Telephone Line had 19,741 interventions from 4,691 Nova Scotians. This is a three per cent increase from the previous year.

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For more information, please contact:
Nova Scotia Health Authority
Media line: 1-844-483-3344