Charlottetown youth mental health services expanded

Charlottetown-area youth suffering from mental health issues are getting more local services.

The P.E.I. government announced three new initiatives Friday.

• The opening of a mental health day treatment facility in Charlottetown.
• The addition of dedicated mental health staff for youth at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
• A behavioural support team to provide more supports for children with mental health conditions.

Premier Wade MacLauchlan said the latest evidence suggests youth mental health services should be located primarily in the community, and the lack of access to community-based services often drives youth to emergency rooms and hospitals for crisis support.

"Children and adolescents with mental health problems are much more likely to become adults with mental illness," said MacLauchlan in a news release.

"If we can provide them with appropriate care when symptoms emerge, many will go on to realize their full potential, to be productive workers and contributing members of society."

The new day treatment program, aimed at 13- to 18-year-olds, will open in the spring at 40 Enman Crescent, the former location of the Strength Program for youth with addictions.

Health Minister Doug Currie saidthe province originally planned to make this an in-patient program at the Hillsborough psychiatric hospital. Instead, it was decided to make it a day treatment program so it would be less institutional, with less stigma attached, according to Currie.

"This program will accommodate approximately 60 youth per year during intervals of 18 weeks, focused on day treatment programs in mental health," said Currie.

"This program is community-based and the direction was on the advice on best practice and the experts advising."

Currie says the Charlottetown facility will complement an existing in-patient facility for youth in Summerside.

New staff at the QEH will include a child psychologist, nursing staff, academic youth worker, two youth workers, an occupational therapist, two social workers, a patient care worker and support staff.

The behavioural support team, once it is up and running in the new year, will support up to 125 cases per year.