Mental Health Matters

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, call the NS Mental Health Helpline toll-free at 1-888-429-8167 or Kids Help Phone toll-free at 1-800-668-6868.

 
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With #BellLetsTalk Day approaching, we thought it would be a good time to look at the many connections between the food we eat and our mental health. This past year, children and youth have faced many drastic changes and new stressors in their day to day lives. Below are some ways that food can help to build resilience and mental wellness in children both at home and at school. 

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Create and Share Meals Together 

Meal times are a great opportunity to bring people together (and we have lots of great recipes to get you started!). Not only can it be fun to prepare and enjoy meals as a family, it also supports:

  • Resiliency 

  • Literacy and communication skills

  • Healthy eating into adulthood

  • Lower risk of disordered eating or poor body image

  • Self-esteem 

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Building Food Skills

Building the knowledge, skills and attitudes to choose, grow, prepare and enjoy food are important parts of supporting the health and well-being of children and youth whether it’s in the kitchen or in the garden.

Cooking with kids helps build confidence, life-long skills and healthy eating habits.

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Food at School 

We at Nourish know that school food, like breakfast programs, plays a key role in supporting the mental health of students. Not only does it fuel students for their learning day, it also creates opportunities for students to engage with staff, take on leadership roles, learn cooking skills and experience a sense of belonging in their school community. That’s why we’re dedicated to supporting and strengthening the amazing school food work happening here in Nova Scotia.

If you like what we do, please visit our Donate page to find out how you can help.

On Bell Let’s Talk Day (Thursday January 28th), Bell will donate 5¢ towards mental health initiatives in Canada for engaging with #BellLetsTalk online. For more information visit: https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/bell-lets-talk-day.

Bell also provides great activities to engage children and youth in conversations about mental health, including resources, videos and more, available here.

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