We know, from our own experience, how hard it is to find help for a loved one with severe mental illness in the Nova Scotia health system. The NS Health website is confusing, the 911 call line is dangerous, the mobile crisis line is overloaded, emergency rooms turn away loved ones who we know to be in mortal danger and psychiatrists and mental health clinicians decline to communicate with us in the most disrespectful, sometimes unprofessional and even unlawful ways. Our journey requires the skills of a detective and tireless exertion sometimes over many years.
We have to be hard nosed, persistent, creative, rude and aggressive to demand and obtain what we deserve and have already paid for in our taxes over our lifetimes in years - the deserved and desperately needed care our loved ones.
This award is to recognize you for what you are: a fearless hero defending our loved ones.
The award is also a further way of encouraging politicians to think about the NS Mental Health system, acknowledge that it is a shocking disgrace to the province and then to set about fixing it together wth NS Moms.
Details will follow.