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 older adults, thirteen different provincial organizations serving seniors were brought together on the topic of seniors mental health promotion.  The organization agreed to collaborate together with the goal of increasing public awareness about the new science of brain and optimal aging.  

Led 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 together to develop five, evidence-based mental health related messages on brain health and optimal aging, vetted by 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 resources were developed.

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. The World Aging and Brain Health Institute was founded to synergize research in Fountain of Health topics, hosting the first International Think Tank on Optimal Aging. The Fountain of Health 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 focused on sustainability, funding, and expanding the Fountain of Health^TM 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 tools and The Wellness App are being shared in frontline care across Canada. Dissemination of lifestyle change tools in individual and workshop formats, and sustainability funding, are current priorities.

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).

In Phase 6, the “THRIVE © Approach to Wellbeing” was integrated as a central feature of all Fountain of Health offerings, and across all age groups. Fountain of Health also partnered with Wellness Together Canada to offer educational webinars and workshops to older adults across Canada.The educational webinars included a 1-hour introduction called “Art and Science of Aging Well”, a 4-week “Optimal Aging Workshop”, and a 1-hour booster called “ THRIVE with Self-Compassion”.This exciting chance to share the science of wellbeing across Canada supports our Fountain of Health team to meet our mission!

If you are interested in donating to the initiative, please click here or contact us at info@fountainofhealth.ca.