HALIFAX -- A Halifax 911 operator has made a Christmas CD that she hopes will change thinking about mental health.
Lana Grant said Sunday the title track of Changing the Way People Think at Christmas was written because she and a group of artists wanted to do something positive for people struggling with mental illnesses during the holiday season.
The 42-year-old musician says she often handles emergency calls from people at this time of year who are feeling troubled and lonely.
Grant says all of the proceeds from the project will go to mental health programs in the community through the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.
She said musicians donated their time, a studio provided a reduced rate for production and Nova Scotia philanthropists Fred and Elizabeth Fountain funded the production of the CDs.
By Sunday, sales had raised $8,000 and Grant says the goal is to reach $35,000 in sales.
Each CD also contains information about mental health programs and ways that people can find help.
Grant said in her professional life she hears people's cries for help and it motivates her to attempt to make a difference through her music.
"I can sit and reflect on all the things I hear and the things I experience and let that bother me or I can take that and make something positive and beautiful happen from that," she said in an interview.
Twelve Nova Scotia artists came together to sing harmonies on the title song.
Grant worked with music producer Chris Iannetti on the track, which touches on several genres of music and vocal styles.
Dave Carroll, Ralph Jordan Croucher, Laura Garsten, John Gracie, Lana Grant, Asif Illyas, Makayla Lynn, Ryan MacDonald, RyLee Madison, Quake Matthews, Liz Rigney and Marko Simmonds also participated in the project.
