Community Support and Resources
Our community health partners offer a range of wrap-around services to support you while you wait. These include mental health counselling, social work support, and access to community resources.
Emergency Care
People with potentially life-threatening conditions should immediately call 911 or go to their nearest emergency department.
811
Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse for health care advice, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (On average, 325 patients receive care from an 811 nurse each day.)
Browse information on more than 500 health topics. Top five most common reasons for calling 811 are: Abdominal pain / discomfort; Chest pain / discomfort; Children’s colds & coughs; Adult colds & coughs; and Adult nausea & vomiting.
Services in over 125 different languages including Farsi, Cantonese, French, Chinese, and Arabic.
Website: 811.NovaScotia.ca
NS Brotherhood
What: Free program for Black Men to access primary health care
Where: 6960 Mumford Road, Halifax | 107 Albro Lake Road, Dartmouth | Upper Hammonds Plains Community Centre | North Preston Community Centre | W5 Mall, East Preston
When: Hours vary
Call: 902-434-0824
Email: nsbrotherhood@nshealth.ca
Website: Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative (NSBI) | Nova Scotia Health (nshealth.ca)
NS Sisterhood
The Nova Scotia Sisterhood is a province-wide, free program for Black women to access healthcare in the community and to improve overall health and wellbeing.
Areas of focus: heart disease; high blood pressure; diabetes; screening for health conditions; mental health and addictions; nutrition and physical activity; obtaining health information specific to Black Women.
Call: 902-399-5473
Email: NSSisterhood@nshealth.ca
Website: Nova Scotia Sisterhood | Nova Scotia Health (nshealth.ca)
prideHealth
What: Health system navigation for 2SLGBTQIA+ community
How: Call 902-487-0470
Email: prideHealth@nshealth.ca
Website: www.prideHealth.ca
Cobequid Youth Health Centre
What: Counselling, support and referrals for people 13-25
Where: Cobequid Community Health Centre, 40 Freer Lane, Lower Sackville
When: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm (call first)
Call: 902-869-6131 or 902-869-6106
Diabetes Centres
What: Self-management support from certified diabetes educators (nurses and dietitians)
Where: Dartmouth, Halifax, Spryfield, Lower Sackville, Musquodoboit Harbour, Musquodoboit Valley, Sheet Harbour and Windsor
How: By referral from primary care provider or pharmacist
Walk-in Clinics
What: Private walk-in clinics
Where: Throughout Nova Scotia
Website: ns.skipthewaitingroom.com
Community Health Teams
What: Wellness programming and wellness navigation
Where:
Bedford Place Mall, 1658 Bedford Hwy
Bedford Community Wellness Centre
16 Dentith Rd., Spryfield
Tacoma Plaza, 58 Tacoma Dr., Dartmouth
Young Tower, 6080 Young St., Halifax
When: Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Call: 902-460-4560
Website: communityhealthteams.ca
Community Health and Wellness Centre –North Preston & East Preston
What: Primary care and wellness programming for residents
of North Preston, Cherry Brook and Lake Loon
Where: North Preston Community Centre, 44 Simmonds Road
When: Monday to Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday 8:00am – 3:30pm
How: Call 902-434-3807
Where: W5 Mall, 1900 Highway #7, Suite 201
When: Wednesday 8:00am – 3:30pm | Thursday and Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Call: 902-434-0824
Community Pharmacies
Community pharmacists can assess and prescribe for minor ailments, such as skin conditions, tick bites and urinary tract infections (UTIs); Renew prescriptions; Prescribe and inject vaccines/medications
Website: pans.ns.ca/find
Need a Family Practice Registry
The Need a Family Practice Registry connects Nova Scotians who do not have a primary care provider with a family practice.
Add your name to the registry
Website: needafamilypractice.nshealth.ca
VirtualCareNS
VirtualCareNS provides people on the Need a Family Practice Registry with free online access to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
Website: virtualcarens.ca
Maple
Nova Scotians who have a primary care provider have access
to virtual care through Maple.
You are eligible for two free visits per year, free of charge, through the Province of Nova Scotia
Website: https://app.getmaple.ca/register/p/nova-scotiahealth-yes-pcp
Mental Health Concerns
Call the 24-hour mental health crisis line at 1- 888-429-8167
Website: mhahelpns.ca
HealthyNS.ca
Free online wellness sessions offered by Nova Scotia Health, in partnership with IWK Health.
There is also a wide range of information on healthy living at this site.
Website: healthyns.ca
Stopping Tobacco Use
Stopping or cutting back on tobacco use is one of the best things you can do for your health.
Call: 811
Website: tobaccofree.novascotia.ca
Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program
This service is available for all asymptomatic (no symptoms) women over the age of 40.
Call: toll-free 1-800-565-0548.
Website: breastscreening.nshealth.ca
Colon Cancer Prevention Program
The Colon Cancer Prevention Program mails home screening kits to all Nova Scotians aged 50 to 74 with the goal of preventing cancer, or finding it early when treatment is most effective.
Website: nshealth.ca/colon-cancer-prevention-program
ROSE Clinic (Reproductive Options and Services)
If you are pregnant and considering abortion:
Call: 1-833-352-0719 as soon as possible, to discuss options.
YourHealthNS
An app to help you to navigate health information, book services and discover care options
Website: yourhealthns.ca
Source: Where to go for health care in Central Zone | Nova Scotia Health (nshealth.ca)