Our Role in Grief & Emotional Wellness
Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model
We help connect communities to grief and emotional wellness supports.
NSHPCA serves as the Community Hub Organization within the Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model, supporting a coordinated approach that promotes equitable access to grief and emotional wellness supports.
The model recognizes that effective support does not rely on a single program or service, but on strong social networks, community-based supports, and shared responsibility to help individuals, families, and communities navigate grief and loss.
Recognizing a Growing Need
As hospice and palliative care networks expanded across Nova Scotia, so too did the understanding that grief and emotional wellness are essential parts of the continuum of care. Communities across Nova Scotia were developing programs, often independently, to meet growing needs. However, there was no central body to connect these efforts, share best practices, and ensure equitable access across the province. That gap inspired change and positioned NSHPCA to step forward.
Recommendation C.13
This work emerged in response to the April 2020 Mass Casualty Event and the final report of the Mass Casualty Commission (2023), which identified the need for sustained, community-based supports (See Recommendation C.13). The model promotes a coordinated approach that ensures equitable access to support, recognizes the importance of strong social networks, and does not rely on a single program or service to meet the diverse needs of individuals, families, and communities.
Community Hub Organization
NSHPCA was selected by the Nova Scotia Office of Addictions and Mental Health to serve as the Community Hub Organization within the Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model, working with communities and Nova Scotia Health to design and deliver grief, bereavement, and emotional wellness services. This role formalized and expanded NSHPCA’s work, building on several years of experience supporting grief and emotional wellness initiatives.
As a hub, we are recognized as:
Connector
amplifier
influencer
knowledge mobilizer
Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model (NSCGEWM)
The Nova Scotia Community Grief & Emotional Wellness Model (NSCGEWM) is a province-wide approach that helps people across Nova Scotia better understand grief and find support when they need it. It recognizes that grief is a natural part of life and that support does not come from one place alone – it comes from families, communities, organizations, and the health system working together.
The NSCGEWM is important because it helps connect and strengthen grief and emotional wellness supports across the province. By focusing on education, shared learning, and community partnerships, the model improves access to reliable information and support – no matter where someone lives. This approach helps build grief-aware communities, supports those who provide care, and ensures Nova Scotians are better prepared to respond to grief with understanding and compassion.