Nova Scotia testing supportive text messages for those with mental health and addictions issues

A new study will be looking into the effectiveness of a supportive text messages for adults dealing with mental health issues and addiction.

“Text4Support will augment mental health support for patients accessing different degrees of psychiatric care through a text messaging program,” said Dr. Vincent Agyapong, Central Zone chief of psychiatry and head of psychiatry at Dalhousie University in a news release. 

“We will investigate the effectiveness of a supportive texting service offered to people as well as usual care to improve mental health outcomes and overall mental wellbeing among patients accessing mental health and addictions clinics or being discharged from psychiatric inpatient, emergency departments or acute care units in Nova Scotia.” 

The research study is open to those aged 18 and up who are accessing or being discharged from formal mental health services in Nova  Scotia, including: 

• Community Mental Health and Addictions Clinics 
• Specialty Programs: Mood Disorders Program, Community Outreach Assessment Support and Treatment, Early Psychosis Program, and Operational Stress Injury Clinic
• Addiction Programs: Withdrawal Management Units, Recovery Support Centres, and Opioid Treatment and Recovery Program
• Transcultural Mental Health Program 
• Day Hospital 
• Rapid Access and Stabilization Program 
• Psychiatric Inpatient Units 
• People accessing emergency departments expressing mental health issues  

Nova Scotia Health says Text4Support has a bank of messages that address general wellbeing, stress, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, adjustment disorders and personality disorders.

“We believe that the care we provide is directly impacted by the research we conduct,” said Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy, Vice President of Research, Innovation and Discovery and Chief Nurse Executive at Nova Scotia Health. 

“Text4Support is an incredibly innovative solution to patient care that could have a significant impact on the current path of treatment for mental health and addictions.”

The QEII Foundation is raising funds to help support the program.   

Nova Scotians can call the Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service Line at 1-855-922-1122 to be connected to a clinician. It's avilable Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. 

The Provincial Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-888-429-8167 for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or someone concerned about them. 

More about services, resources, and tools can be found on Mental Health and Addiction’s Program website.