N.S. funds program supporting young people with anxiety

The province is making it easier for young people struggling with anxiety to get the support they need.

Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine announced Thursday that the province is awarding a $148,875 grant to the Strongest Families Institute for its programming, which helps young people manage anxiety.

“Many Nova Scotians struggle with anxiety. It can impact anyone at any age. Anxiety can affect social skills, academic performance,” says Glavine.

“As a former teacher and school administrator, I can certainly relate to (this struggle). It can even lead to more serious mental health concerns. This is why this intervention is so important.”

Strongest Families Institute is a non-profit organization that provides families with support and resources in order to support young people coping with anxiety.

The organization’s provincial office is located in Lower Sackville. It also operates in Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador.   

Patricia Lingley-Pottie, president and CEO of the organization, says the program has helped more than 1,100 people in Nova Scotia in the past six months.

Strongest Families Institute will use this grant to evaluate and update its materials. It will also develop a mobile-friendly daily anxiety tracker that will help young people understand their personal anxiety and provide them with skills to help them cope in moments of frustration, panic or distress.

Lingley-Pottie says many young people struggle with anxiety, which can affect their social interactions and academic progress.

Young people and their families across the province can be connected through referrals to the organization’s services through local mental health clinics.

“This grant will allow us to reach more youth through group coaching, where it’s appropriate, and to ensure our materials meet their needs,” says Lingley-Pottie.

Glavine says this is the first of a series of community mental health grants that will be awarded in the coming weeks. The province will award a total of $600,000 in mental health and addictions grants this year.