Mental health walk-in clinics added in Charlottetown, Prince County

Mentalhealthwalk-in clinics have been added in Charlottetown,Lennox Island and Prince County Hospitalto provide greater mental healthservices for what Health PEI calls an increasing number of people seeking the service.

The new Charlottetown walk-in clinic aims tohelpIslanders dealing with anxiety, depressionand othermental healthissues.

We like to think they're reducing the barriers and stigma.- Bruce Davison, Health PEI

Health PEI has seen 235 people access walk-in mental health clinics since July 2016, according to Bruce Davison, the manager of community mental health and addictions west.

"For many people, having walk-in access...mental health can be the right service at the right time," said Davison.

"We like to think they're reducing the barriers and stigma to accessing community mental health services."

Of the people who have accessed these walk-in clinics, Davison said only about a quarter of them leave wanting to access further, more traditional mental health services.

There has also been a "notable increase" of people accessing the services, Davison said.

That includes more people accessing it from groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the services, he said, "most notably young adult men and middle-aged men who have not traditionally accessed service in the same numbers as women."

The new Charlottetown clinic islocated at Richmond Centreand will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from10 a.m. to 4 p.m.No appointment or referral is needed.

Prince County clinics added

In addition to existing clinics at WestisleCompositeHigh School and the O'Leary Health Centre, Lennox IslandHealthCentre will now provide mental health services on Wednesdays from9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Another daywasaddedat the Prince County Hospital in Summerside.

Walk-in clinics will now run Thursdaysfrom10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in addition to Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• 3 new mental health clinics open in Prince County
• Health PEI eyeing mobile care for mental health crisis response

Those visiting the walk-in clinics can see a registered communitymental healththerapist for up to one hour.

At the end of the session, the individual will receive a brief written summary of what was discussed and suggestions or recommendations, including referrals to services offered by CommunityMentalHealth.

More information aboutmental healthservices, including clinic schedules,isavailable onlineor by contacting a local communitymental healthoffice.

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