Services to help youth dealing with mental health and substance use challenges are being bolstered in the Nanaimo area. (Dreamstime)

By Ian Holmes

youth help

Mental health/substance use services ramp up in Nanaimo area

Sep 16, 2024 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Over the past several months a team of professionals has begun tackling expanding and complex health challenges impacting youth and their families on the mid-Island.

Following a B.C. government pledge early in 2023 to expand Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) services, an allotment of up to 28 employees in a range of disciplines was pledged for zero to 19-year-olds within the Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools catchment area, according to interim supt. Laura Tait.

“We haven’t had these traditionally in our schools. Now we have access to very specific types of supports at our fingertips,” Tait told NanaimoNewsNOW, who said candidly the need for more help became abundantly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SD68 employees and provincially hired employees are anticipated to involve four, seven-member ICY teams at full capacity.

Clinical counsellors and youth support workers, who are SD68 employees, began working early this year, Tait said.

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Once teams are fully built out, substance use clinicians, as well as services tailored for Indigenous and new immigrants will be among new programs added.

About 150 referrals have been made to the Nanaimo area ICY team, which is currently serving 110 children and youth, Tait said.

“The beauty of the ICY team is that all of these supports are together in one place, they have team meetings, they manage cases together and the team can best decide and support the kinds of supports they can provide that individual.”

One local family is currently receiving assistance from three different staff workers, stemming directly from the collaborative nature of ICY, Tait said.

Easy and equitable access to programming are critical components of ICY, Tait said.

“…we are therefore able to reach kids and families that would otherwise not receive or be accessing services.”

More information on Integrated Child and Youth teams in B.C. can be found here.

Correction: this article originally incorrectly stated the ICY program allotment is seven, four-member teams, as opposed to the correct staffing composition of four teams of seven workers.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes