Soon-to-be-created teams in Delta and Surrey promise to provide seamless mental health and addiction services for local children and youth, where and when they need it.
On Friday (April 26), the province announced seven new Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams to serve communities in and around Delta (including Tsawwassen First Nation), Surrey, the Central Coast, Cowichan Valley, Gold Trail, Peace River South and Qualicum.
According to a government press release, ICY teams reduce barriers to accessing services, providing connections to clinical counsellors, youth substance-use and mental-health clinicians, those supporting Indigenous children and youth, as well as family and youth peer-support workers.
The teams’ co-ordinated approach ensures all members are aware of a client’s care plan and reduces the number of times young people and their families have to retell their stories, which can be traumatizing for some. Further, the teams strive to meet youth where they feel most comfortable, whether in schools or other community settings.
“Young people face more complex challenges than ever and it is imperative for them to connect to the right services when they need help,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said in a press release.
“The new Integrated Child and Youth teams will provide co-ordinated access to mental-health, wellness and addictions resources, ensuring children, youth and their families have seamless access to these critical services where and when they need them.”
The ministry’s press release notes that an estimated 75 per cent of serious mental-health issues emerge before the age of 25, and that drug toxicity and suicide are the two leading causes of death in B.C. for people between ages 15 and 18.
Children and youth as old as 19 with mental-health and addiction needs (as well as their families) can connect with ICY teams via community service providers, school staff, primary care, mental-health and addictions services, Foundry centres, and organizations that support First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. They can also refer themselves.
The seven new teams will join another 13 either already in operation or in the process of being implemented in school districts across the province, representing a $101-million commitment over three years to get all 20 teams up and running by 2025.
While school district boundaries are used to delineate the coverage areas, ICY services are open to all those residing within a team’s catchment, including children and youth attending First Nations-operated, independent or alternative schools, as well as those not currently in school.
“Children are our future, and there’s nothing more important than ensuring their health and wellness,” Rachna Singh, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers, said in a press release. “Integrated Child and Youth teams are doing great work in school districts around the province, and it’s exciting to see them coming to Surrey.”
Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon said in a statement that Delta students having access to an ICY team will be crucial for their learning and development.
“For children and youth to be successful in the classroom, we must ensure that they have the supports and services they need including mental-health and addictions resources,” Kahlon said.
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