| Recipient: | Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia |
|---|---|
| Project: | Landing Strong |
| Province: | Nova Scotia |
| Period: | 31 August 2019 – 31 March 2024 |
| Funding: | $727,876 |
Overview:
Funding from the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund enabled the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia to increase services under its Landing Strong program - a platform designed to provide comprehensive services to Veterans, first responders, and their families/support systems. In addition to the foundation program, this funding facilitated the introduction of complimentary initiatives that offered Veteran families greater opportunities for engagement.
Project Goals:
The main goals of this project were to:
- increase services to Veterans and first responders suffering from operational stress injuries;
- create a continuum of care responsive to the particular needs of the individual affected; and
- provide education and resources regarding operational stress injuries to those who are injured as well as the public at large, thereby decreasing the stigma associated with these mental health conditions.
Project Activities:
To achieve these goals, the project team completed the following activities:
- offered group therapy programs;
- provided community outreach and education;
- offered professional training and supports; and
- created collaborations and partnerships.
Project Results:
With funding from the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, Landing Strong significantly increased services available to Veterans suffering from operational stress injuries through the foundation program (Return to Health) as well as the Return to Work program and other programs supporting Veterans and their families. Participation across all programs increased significantly between 2019 and 2024 with new Veterans continuing to be attracted to the organization’s offerings. Landing Strong provided education and resources to Veterans and their families and formed solid partnerships with community organizations to provide additional resources to Veterans who are injured. The number of programs offered was twice what was expected, with strong engagement from participants. The Landing Strong team attended various conferences as keynote speakers and also presented at national conferences (e.g. Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research) during the funding period.