Budgeting for mental wellness

Today saw the Progressive Conservative government outline its spending plan for Nova Scotians for the coming year. And health care was a huge part of the $13.2-billon budget. Mental health was also included. Earlier in the day, the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW). Both groups were looking for the government to focus on equity, parity, housing, early intervention and the social determinants of health. Karn Nichols is the Executive Director of CMHA in Nova Scotia. She was in the budget lockup waiting to see if the government got close to the World Health Organization's recommendation that at least 10 percent of Health and Wellness spending go towards mental health and addictions programming. She gave her assessment of the document and the spending priorities afterwards.