Nova Scotia Health researching text message mental health support

HALIFAX — A new Nova Scotia Health study will examine how positive and supportive text messages sent to mental health and addiction patients can impact recovery.

The study, called Text4Support, aims to add to existing services by providing supportive text messages to patients as they access or are discharged from mental health services.

Dr. Vincent Agyapong, chief of psychiatry in the central zone, said the program looks to improve the wellbeing of patients.

“We will investigate the effectiveness of a supportive texting service offered to people as well as usual care to improve mental health outcomes and overall mental wellbeing among patients accessing mental health and addictions clinics or being discharged from psychiatric inpatient, emergency departments or acute care units in Nova Scotia,” said Agyapong.

Text4Support includes a bank of 180 messages per category, addressing general wellbeing, stress, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, adjustment disorders and personality disorders.

Patients in formal care will also be offered the opportunity to access the service.

More information is available online at www.resiliencenhope.org/programs.