Phase 1
 
2010 to 2012

Initiated by Geriatric Psychiatry Department at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and funded by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, Phase 1 was focused on different provincial organizations serving seniors' were brought together on the topic of seniors' mental health promotion.  The organizations agreed to collaborate together with the goal of increasing public awareness about the new science of brain health and optimal aging. 

 Phase 2
 
2013 to 2014

Lead by Caregivers of Nova Scotia and Geriatric Psychiatry at Dalhousie, and funded by Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Seniors, academic, non-profit and government organizations worked to develop five, evidence-based mental health related messages on brain health and optimal aging, vetted by an advisory board of older adults and shared by webpage.  In 2014 national collaborators joined the effort including the Mental Health Core Working Group and Advisory Board and our first clinician educational materials were developed.

 Phase 3
 
2015 to 2016

The focus in Phase 3 was national and international expansion. With funding from the Department of Seniors and a New Horizons grant, two pilot projects were implemented: 1) Family Physician engagement project and 2) Workshop project. The website was revised, an educational video developed, and materials were disseminated and shared nationally and internationally. Positive Psychiatry Section of the World Psychiatric Association and a National Leadership Team was established - see Our People(link is external). The World Aging and Brain Health Institute was founded to synergize research in FoH topics, hosting the first International Think Tank on Optimal Aging. The FoH was highlighted as a keynote address at the 2016 25th anniversary Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting, and at the 2017 Canadian Conference on Dementia.

 Phase 4
 
2017 to 2018

Phase 4 focused on sustainability, funding, and expanding the Fountain of HealthTM message across all age groups and the development of The Wellness App. With two competitive grants from the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CCABHI) and one from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, our Behaviour Change Toolkit and The Wellness App were shared with over 2000 clinicians in frontline care across Canada.
 

 

Phase 5
 
2020 - Present

In Phase 5, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fountain of Health’s mission shifted from “Brain Health” and “Optimal Aging” to a larger focus on “Thriving” and “Wellbeing”. Fountain of Health’s “THRIVE © Approach to Wellbeing” targets a wide audience. In 2022, the Fountain of Health “Thrive Learning Centre” was launched to offer wellbeing webinars, training and tools for individuals, organizations and clinicians. In 2021-22, the “Thrive MD Physician Wellness Program” was offered in collaboration with Doctors Nova Scotia, funded by the Affinity Fund (CMA, Scotiabank and MD Management).


To learn more visit the FOUNTAIN OF HEALTH main site