Ontario Connecting Youth in Peel Region to Mental Health Services

by ahnationtalk on June 14, 202446 Views

June 13, 2024

BRAMPTON — The Ontario government is making it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use services by launching a new Youth Wellness Hub in Brampton to serve Peel Region. This is one of the 10 new hubs that the government is adding to the network of 22 hubs already opened since 2020, bringing the total to 32 across the province.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is continuing to take action to improve mental health and addictions services in communities across Ontario, and support people and their families living with mental health and substance use challenges,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “As we expand the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province, young people in Peel Region can connect to the mental health and addictions care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home.”

The new hub will open in 2025 and will connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families across Peel Region to convenient and free mental health, substance use and primary care services in a safe, youth-friendly space, making it easier for youth to drop in for in-person counselling or peer support close to their home.

Other services provided through the hub will deliver culturally appropriate care, including vocational supports, education, employment, housing, access to community programs, and supports for children and youth in need of child welfare services while in care or transitioning out of care.

Peel Children’s Aid Society is leading the co-design of the new hub with youth and community partners across the region, ensuring diverse youth voices and unique needs of Indigenous, First Nations and Black youth are at the centre of the design and planning for the hub model.

“By continuing to expand our network of Youth Wellness Hubs, our government is ensuring youth across the province have convenient access to the highest-quality mental health and addictions supports, when and where they need them,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “Peel Region’s new Youth Wellness Hub will be a place for young people to feel safe and connected to a community that supports them and helps equip them with the tools they need to face life’s challenges.”

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province to make it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support, primary care, social services, and more.

Quick Facts

Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established a provincial network of 22 Youth Wellness Hubs that have connected 43,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for over 168,000 visits.
Reflecting on this success, Ontario is adding 10 more hubs to the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario program: five new hubs will be located in Port Hope, Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan and Peel Region, with another five hubs to be funded through Budget 2024 with an investment of $8.3 million over three years, with locations to be announced.
The 22 Youth Wellness Hubs currently operating across the province are serving over 31 communities: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain (Cornwall & SDG and Rockland & Prescott Russell), Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton (includes Peel Region and Mississauga), Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, Toronto East, Wellington-Guelph, West Toronto and Windsor-Essex.
Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs through Roadmap to Wellness.
As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.

Quotes

“The opening of the new Youth Wellness Hub in Brampton marks a major step forward in providing essential mental health and addiction services to young people in Peel Region. This initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that all youth have access to culturally appropriate support in a convenient, welcoming environment. By locating these services in the community, we are enabling young individuals to thrive and get the care they need and deserve.”

– Charmaine Williams
Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity

“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, the Government of Ontario is committed to improving mental health and substance use services across Brampton. By launching a new Youth Wellness Hub in Brampton, we are making it easier for young people in the Peel Region to access the care they need in one convenient, youth-friendly location. This new hub will provide essential mental health, substance use, and primary care services, ensuring our youth have the support they need close to home.”

– Amarjot Sandhu
MPP Brampton West

“Children and young people across Peel region deserve timely access to high-quality mental health and substance use services when they need it, and where they need it. Thanks to Minister Jones’ leadership, the new Brampton Youth Wellness Hub means youth in our community will be able to get help where they live, now and for years to come.”

– Prabmeet Sarkaria
MPP Brampton South

“Brampton is a young city, and a lot of our youth struggle with mental health challenges. The new Youth Wellness Hub set to open its doors in 2025 will ensure they are connected to effective and convenient supports they deserve. This investment is yet another sign that our government takes mental health seriously and is committed to providing our youth the tools they need to live happier and healthier lives.”

– Graham McGregor
MPP Brampton North

“In collaboration with Peel community partners, we are proud to be the first child welfare agency in Ontario to lead the development of a Youth Wellness Hub. By centering the voices of the children and youth we serve, we aim to ensure mental health services are available to vulnerable young people as early as possible, while simultaneously ensuring that children and youth with lived experience in child welfare can access programming in an environment that fosters a sense of belonging. We are grateful to the Ontario government for their investment and support.”

– Mary Beth Moellenkamp
CEO, Peel CAS

“I am thrilled to welcome the Brampton Youth Wellness Hub into the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) network and would like to thank the local network partners, the Government of Ontario and the collaborative community partnerships that have made the development of this hub possible. This critical investment provides young people in Brampton with an inclusive, welcoming space where they can access a full range of integrated mental health, substance use health, primary care, housing, employment, recreation, and other support services that meet their individual level of need. Together, we continue to work towards positive outcomes with and for all youth in Ontario.”

– Dr. Jo Henderson
Executive Director, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO)

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