An Open Letter to the Nova Scotia Government: Addressing Social Isolation Through Real Support

 

By Kendall Worth

 

 

 

Hello,

My name is Kendall Worth, and I am a writer and advocate based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Over the years, I have written extensively about the connections between poverty, mental health, and social isolation.

You can find my past work with the Nova Scotia Advocate here:
https://nsadvocate.org/author/kendall-worth/

And my earlier work with the Halifax Media Co-op here:
https://halifax.mediacoop.ca/author/kendall-worth.html

Today, I continue that work through my blog, For What Matters Journalism:
https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/

 

Why I Am Writing This

I am writing this open letter to bring attention to a gap in Nova Scotia’s mental health system that is often overlooked—the lack of meaningful support for people dealing with social isolation and the loss of personal relationships.

Through my own lived experience, I have spent many years navigating both the mental health system and the realities of living in poverty here in Nova Scotia. What I have consistently found is that while there are services available, there are very few supports that help people deal with:

• The loss of friendships

• Being told to respect “no contact” boundaries

• The emotional impact of social disconnection

• Learning how to rebuild healthy relationships

This is a real issue, and it is not being addressed.

 

A Pattern That Needs Attention

Over the years, I have written about my experiences with friendships ending and the emotional toll that comes with it. One example can be found here:

https://nsadvocate.org/2017/03/27/downright-difficult-kendall-worth-on-friendships-ending/

I have also explored the connection between friendship loss, poverty, and discouragement in this article:

https://nsadvocate.org/2019/01/28/kendall-worth-on-friendship-poverty-and-feeling-discouraged/

These experiences are not isolated. They point to a larger issue—one where people are left to deal with complex social and emotional challenges without the right kind of support.

 

What Is Missing

What is missing in Nova Scotia is a support system focused on social connection itself.

We often hear that social isolation is a problem, yet people are left without practical, accessible ways to address it. Instead, the system tends to rely heavily on clinical responses, such as medication, without offering enough community-based alternatives.

I have written about what a potential solution could look like here:

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2025/11/sometimes-solution-is-found-in-creative.html

And more specifically, about the need for a dedicated support group here:

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2023/05/a-support-group-people-living-in.html

A Path Forward: Real Solutions

Based on both my lived experience and years of writing on this topic, I believe there are two key solutions that need to be explored in Nova Scotia:

1. Peer-Based Support Groups

There is a need for structured support groups where people can:

• Talk about the experience of losing friendships

• Learn about personal boundaries and how to respect them

• Develop healthier communication skills

• Rebuild social confidence in a safe environment

These groups would provide something that currently does not exist—a place to process and grow from these experiences, rather than facing them alone.

 

2. Social Prescribing

In other regions, social prescribing programs are being used to connect people with community-based supports instead of relying only on medical treatment.

I have been advocating for this approach and have collected information on it here:

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/search/label/social%20prescribing

and here:

https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/search/label/social%20prescription

Social prescribing allows healthcare providers to refer people to:

• Support groups

• Community programs

• Social activities

This approach recognizes that mental health is not just medical—it is social.

 

Why This Matters

Social isolation is not a solution. It is not something people should be encouraged—directly or indirectly—to accept as normal.

Without the right supports:

• Mental health can decline

• People can become increasingly disconnected

• The risk of crisis situations can increase

What I am calling for is simple: real, practical supports that help people stay connected and rebuild their social lives in healthy ways.

Final Thoughts

This is not just about my experience. It is about a gap that exists in Nova Scotia’s system—one that affects many people, especially those living in poverty or facing long-term isolation.

I believe that with the right approach, including peer support groups and social prescribing, Nova Scotia can take meaningful steps toward addressing this issue.

I will continue to advocate for these changes through my writing and community work.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this.