The Nova Scotia government has announced a series of budget cuts that include a reduction in mental health funding associated with initiatives stemming from the 2020 mass shooting in the province. This decision is part of a broader $130-million cut in government grants to various non-profit and community organizations, amidst a backdrop of a significant $1.2-billion budget deficit. Among the affected programs are two that were specifically recommended by the public inquiry into the mass shooting, which claimed 22 lives and left deep scars in the community.

Among the cuts is a $110,000 reduction from the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, which directly impacts programs designed to offer trauma-informed care to survivors and affected families. Local grief and bereavement co-ordinator Serena Lewis has raised concerns about this decision, indicating that many survivors take years to seek help and emphasizing that funding for mental health should not have an expiration date in relation to the timing of trauma.

The government has not provided immediate comments on the criticism surrounding these cuts. The elimination of funding for key mental health services is likely to exacerbate the ongoing struggles faced by individuals affected by the shooting, indicating a critical need for ongoing support for mental health resources, especially in light of the psychosocial ramifications of such tragedies.