REPETITIVE TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION

Thanks to our donor community and a generous $420,000 donation from Bell Let’s Talk that brought the QEII Foundation’s $820,000 goal to the finish line, two rTMS locations are now open in Nova Scotia. This leading-edge treatment will offer relief to the many Nova Scotians living with treatment-resistant depression – without the cost barrier of private clinics.

The first clinic opened on April 6, 2021, at the Nova Scotia Hospital in Dartmouth, followed by a second location at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville on April 4, 2022.

TO-DATE, THERE’S BEEN 2,492 RTMS TREATMENT APPOINTMENTS AT THE NOVA SCOTIA HOSPITAL AND VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL. PREVIOUSLY, RTMS WAS ONLY AVAILABLE IN NOVA SCOTIA AT PRIVATE CLINICS, COSTING OVER $3,000 FOR A FULL ROUND OF SESSIONS.

rTMS modifies the way that neurons in the brain work through a series of magnetic pulses that either stimulates or inhibits activity. rTMS treatments can work wonders to ease symptoms for patients facing depression, even when other treatments such as medications and psychotherapy have proven ineffective.

rTMS is a newer, less disruptive option than electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which while highly effective, involves the use of general anesthesia and muscle relaxants. With rTMS, magnetic coils are simply placed on the head, so clients can enter as-is and resume daily activities once their session is complete.

rTMS has helped put Nova Scotia at the forefront of mental health care, with two newly opened, leading-edge clinics for treatment resistant depression – free of cost for patients, accessible in our home communities.

When generous donors like Bell Let’s Talk join our community to support innovative healthcare solutions, like rTMS, through the QEII Foundation, it’s just one example of how our $100-million We Are campaign is elevating health care across our province.