A new facility has opened on Nova Scotia’s East Coast that is specifically designed to provide support to first responders and veterans.
The treatment center at Head of Jeddore, NS, is the first of its kind in the region and will help members living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma and addiction.
“If you’ve spent your life carrying the load for others, you no longer have to carry it alone. Help is here in a place built for you,” said Joe Magnet, CEO of EHN Guardians during Tuesday’s grand opening.
The three buildings are located about 45 minutes outside of Halifax and will be run by EHN Guardians, an organization that operates treatment facilities in the country.
This is the organization’s first center created exclusively for the military, RCMP, veterans and first responders in Atlantic Canada.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, pre-pandemic statistics showed that 12 to 23 per cent of first responders will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
Michael Gittens, who has worked as a paramedic for more than 30 years, was at the launch event on Tuesday and says he has benefited from a nine-week program offered through EHN in 2024.
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He is now encouraging others in a similar position to get the help they need.
“I was fighting for years. But the problem is I didn’t know why I was fighting,” he said.
“Don’t be ashamed. Look in the mirror, tell yourself you can change, you can go back to the good person you were.”
The center has 23 bedrooms, a gym and a detox facility. Four nurses will work on site, along with 24/7 mental health and addiction support.
“This treatment program is a trauma facility that also treats people with substance use disorder because we also know that substance use disorder is one of the many symptoms of trauma-related injuries for people,” Helen Luedee said. Executive Director of EHN Canada.
“We have detox here in this new facility. And they’re going to see some of the withdrawal management beds, and they’re going to see some of the rooms that they’re going to set up for ketamine treatment, which is one of the treatments that we offer here at the site.”
Luedee says the goal is to provide a new standard of care for first responders with programs that specifically address trauma and psychological injury.
The facility is currently offering a seven-week trauma program and a nine-week addiction program. Additional substance abuse treatments are coming in the fall.
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