St. Francis Xavier University announces that the Government of Nova Scotia will be investing $37.4 million dollars into the new Institute for Innovation in Health.
The Institute will be a place on campus where StFX researchers and students will explore ways to improve health in rural Nova Scotia, as well as promotion, mental health and wellness, while focusing on the root causes to poor health.
Hon. Brian Wong, Minister of Advanced Education; Dr. Britney Benoit, nursing faculty; Erin Usher, co-president of StFX Health Society; Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston; Katherine Culligan, co-president of StFX Health Society; Hon. Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness; Dennis Flood, StFX Board Chair; Dr. Andy Hakin, President and Vice-Chancellor of StFX
"This is wonderful news for our entire campus community and northern Nova Scotia," said Dr. Andy Hakin, President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Francis Xavier University. "This is an investment in advancing health, wellness, and rural care. The Institute for Innovation in Health at StFX will be recognized for impacting education, promotion, and prevention programs responsive to rural healthcare and service needs in Nova Scotian communities.
"Rural communities require collaborative and multi-dimensional efforts to influence the full breadth of social, economic, and environmental factors that impact physical and mental health and well-being across a person's lifespan."
StFX has unique opportunities to understand and apply approaches to mental and physical health lifestyle choices in young adults that will contribute to positive personal, family and community outcomes in the future.
"By focusing on prevention, we can help people lead stronger, healthier lives, which reduces the burden on the healthcare system," said Premier Tim Houston. "We have a long-term plan for healthcare and it's working. This institute is another achievement for our province and complements the work underway to transform healthcare for Nova Scotians."
The Institute for Innovation in Health will offer a variety of health research and solutions; creating multi-disciplinary, inter-professional and community-responsive approaches and innovation to health. Additionally, the institute will help reduce the demand of costly health interventions through a focus on social determinants of health, improving health promotion, mental health and wellness, and collaborative care interventions in rural communities.
Also, the new institute will be the ongoing headquarters of the National Collaborating Centre for the Determinants for Health, one of six national centres of excellence funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada focused on the translation of knowledge to act on the social determinants of health.
