Hello members, volunteers, and community partners,
How are you doing? As we grieve as a province and continue to deal with our challenging new reality, I wanted to reach out and offer a few additional resources that may be helpful for you or someone you know.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any suggestions, questions or requests for help. If we can’t help, we’ll point you in the right direction.
Another at home fitness option: OrCam have been offering described yoga and other at home fitness classes! Check out OrCam’s Facebook page for more.
How to Wear a Face Mask Without Fogging Up Your Glasses
Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team: The Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team provides support by phone 24/7 for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. to most Halifax area communities. Call: 902-429-8167, 1-888-429-8167 (Toll Free)
Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia: CMHA NS continues to provide non-clinical mental health psycho-social support throughout COVID-19. They are committed to keeping communities and clients safe and their services supportive and welcoming. www.novascotia.cmha.ca Call: 1-877-466-6606 (Toll free)
Health Minds Patient Navigator: Healthy Minds Cooperative is an innovative mental health cooperative providing a variety of peer-based services to people with lived experience of mental health issues and their families. HMC is available 9-5, Monday-Friday by phone and email. Call: 902-404-3504
What to Do If You’re Feeling Anxious About the Coronavirus An article from the UW Medicine website about dealing with anxiety and worry surrounding the Coronavirus.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic A short video created by Dr. Adriana Wilson, Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University.
Mental Health Wellness Tips for Quarantine This article, written by NYS Psychologist Eileen Feliciano, includes some great tips.
CNIB Nova Scotia Programs:
Virtual Vision Mates: The CNIB Foundation has adjusted our Vision Mate program and launched “Virtual Vision Mates”, which includes volunteers that:
Could pick up and drop off groceries for people with sight loss during the current pandemic (you’d provide money in advance or order online and they’d deliver it to your doorstep)
Are part of our Phone-a-Friend program, where we will be matching our members with each other for weekly social calls
Will become Vision Mates when visits are allowed again, but will connect via telephone until then
If you’d be interested in being part of any of these “Virtual Vision Mate” offerings, email jeff.deviller@cnib.ca.
Living with Vision Loss Group: Vision Loss Rehabilitation Nova Scotia will be hosting a phone “Living with Vision Loss” 8-week session (formerly known as Adjustment to Vision Loss Groups) starting Wednesday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. If you think you’d benefit from joining these sessions or you’d like to find out more, please reach out to Ginny Sweet at Ginny.Sweet@vlrehab.ca or (902) 440-9835.
Trivia & Games Night: Jeff deViller will be hosting an interactive series of trivia and games with very, real prizes on the line this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. At the start of the call, Jeff will take attendance and create teams. We will then play games in rounds with teams being asked questions directly to avoid everyone answering at once. To participate, email jeff.deviller@cnib.ca and he will share with you both a link (if you want to participate through your computer) and a phone number (if you’d like to call in). Then all you have to do is login or call in at the time! Only call in if you’re ready to be a little silly and have a lot of fun!
Issues with Sighted Guides: Have you experienced issues when entering a pharmacy or grocery store with your sighted guide as a result of COVID-19 restrictions? You have rights! Please contact Shelley Adams at shelley.adams@cnib.ca and share your story. She may be able to provide advice, direction, and self-advocacy tools.
Stay safe.
On behalf of the CCB Blind Sports NS Family