I'm in Crisis

If there's something happening in your life or the life of someone you care about and you need urgent support, we can help.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, contact us right away:

  • Call us at (902) 679–2870 (adult) or (902) 679–2873 (child and youth) (weekdays, Monday to Friday, between 8:30am – 4:30pm)
  • At all other times, go to your local emergency department, call 9-1-1 or call the Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-888-429-8167.

Definition of Crisis

A crisis is an emergency that is an immediate threat to your physical, emotional and mental health. Extreme stress (for example: the loss of housing, acute relationship distress, or violence and trauma) can lead to crisis. A crisis can happen when a person's usual coping strategies are overwhelmed and they need urgent support. The goal of Crisis Reponse is to provide support to enable the person to handle the crisis while remaining in the community.

Some examples of crisis:

  • someone could be extremely worried about the possibility of violence in the house next door, or to a friend or family member
  • noticing a sudden loss of interest or a sudden mood change in your child, partner, friend or family member
  • someone could be talking about dying a lot and emailing or posting these thoughts to Facebook or Twitter, etc.
  • someone's thoughts of suicide are becoming more troublesome and frightening
  • someone is very anxious and retreating from friends and family
  • someone's drinking has increased to the point that it causes a lot of negative thinking or negative events in their life
  • needing to use drugs or alcohol before a person is able to go out

Signs you may be in crisis:

  • not sleeping well (less than four hours per night) and feeling mentally exhausted
  • feeling very depressed and not able to keep up with your life demands
  • thinking about dying or being dead, and being afraid of these thoughts
  • wishing you were dead and/or wanting the courage to kill yourself
  • hurting yourself more by cutting, taking too many drugs or alcohol, or becoming reckless
  • spending more time drinking, smoking pot or using other types of drugs
  • missing a lot of time from work and hiding away from friends and family
  • feeling alone, lost or unloved
  • having strange and frightening thoughts
  • having nowhere or no one to turn to

Click here to find out more about crisis and crisis services.

Local and provincial crisis contacts

Medical emergencies, police, fire, harm to self or others

911

Mental Health, Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling

Crisis Response Services 
8:30 am-4:30 pm
(902) 679-2870

Withdrawal Management/Detoxification, Addiction Services

(902) 825-1341 | 24 hour support

Gambling Help Line

1-888-347-8888 | 24 hour support

Health Info Line (the Nurse Line) 

811 | 24 hour support

Poison Control

1-800-565-8161

Children and teens

Kids Help Phone

1-800-668-6868
www.kidshelpphone.ca

Teens

The Red Door

Teen drop in and Youth Health Centre
150 Park Street, Kentville.
Call for times (902) 679-1411

Women and their families

Chrysalis House

1-800-264-8682

Pregnancy and Substance Use

www.motherrisk.org
1- 877-327-4636

Food Banks

Feed Nova Scotia
1-877-521-1188

If you are not in crisis, but would like to talk to us, please make an appointment or referral. Our services are covered by MSI, and you don't need a doctor--you can refer yourself or someone else:

  • Addiction Services (902) 679-2393 or (902) 825-6828

  • Adult Mental Health Kentville (902) 679-2870

  • Child Mental Health Kentville (902) 679-2873

  • Child and Adult Mental Health Middleton (902) 825-4825