Welcome to the Self-Help Connection!
The Self-Help Connection is a registered charitable organization established in 1987 to assist Nova Scotians to take control of their health by increasing their knowledge, skills, and resources for
individual and collective action.
The Self-Help Connection has received national recognition as a ‘Mental Health Best Practice Program’ from the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Advisory Network on Mental Health for self-help and consumer initiatives.
Office Address:
300 Prince Albert Road, Suite 202B
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4J2
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm
Phone: (902) 453-2011
About the Self-Help Connection
Self-Help Connection (SHC) is a charitable organization dedicated to shaping healthy communities for the past 30 years in Nova Scotia by uniting the voices and expertise of community members, non-profit agencies and government.
Much of Self-Help Connection’s work is focused on increasing community wellbeing by supporting individuals and organizations interested in facilitating self-help groups. Customized training programs, online resources, and marketing supports continue to be developed to strengthen the ability of new and existing groups to build community presence and impact around mental health and wellness.
Self-Help Connection’s unique mental health and wellness expertise, provincial mandate and ongoing collection of stories from self- help group facilitators and collaborating community agencies ensure its provincial programming continues to be shaped in alignment with community mental health and wellness needs.
Our Goals
Information and Referral
To provide information on self-help groups, resources, and issues, and to refer individuals to the appropriate self-help group, professionals, community resources.
Capacity Building and Support
To develop projects/programs to meet the health needs of specific health populations; to help individuals set up, lead and maintain self-help groups; to assist professionals in setting up support groups and peer support networks.
Research and Evaluation
To conduct research on self-help and mental health issues; to train and mentor mental health consumers in participatory action research initiatives; to evaluate programs and projects of the Self-Help Connection.
Guiding Principles
- Do with groups, not to or for
- Recognize that citizens have an inherent capacity to learn, grow and change
- Believe that through self-help group participation people can acquire the knowledge, skills and resources to take control over their health
- Believe citizens have the right to choices for enhancing their health
- Believe it is important to foster partnerships with self-help allies to promote self-help