Protect, Befriend, Respect (Nova Scotia's Mental Health Movement, 1908-2008)

Tracing a century of its evolution, this chronicle outlines the mental health movement in Nova Scotia. Charting the Canadian Mental Health Association and its antecedent organizations, this account illustrates how these groups constituted a major force in the campaign to improve the prospects of people living with mental illness. The movement is depicted in three stages—from seeking to protect mentally compromised people, through befriending those struggling with mental disabilities and speaking out against discrimination, and finally, to advocating for the rights of consumers and respecting their need to speak on their own behalf. This journey through social policy focuses on those who fought institutionalization and indifference with compassion and dedication. The result is a history not only of a particular organization but also of a society’s approach toward some of its most vulnerable constituents.