Richmond kids and youth see more provincial mental health support

Kids and youth in Richmond facing mental-health and substance-use challenges are getting more support, as specialized teams have been set up in the community.

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions says Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) teams are working together to help young people through things like therapeutic services, and connecting kids and youth to peer supports.

“Every child and family in British Columbia deserves strong health-care services, including access to mental-health and substance-use supports,” Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside said in a statement.

“The Richmond ICY teams are connecting children, young people and families to clinical, peer and cultural supports, meeting young people where they feel most comfortable: in schools, homes or community settings,” the ministry added.

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Minister of Children and Family Development Mitzi Dean, says helping children with mental health challenges is important.

“When a child or youth is struggling with their mental health, it is essential they have access to co-ordinated supports so they can quickly get back on a healthy path,” Dean said.

“Working together in schools and in the community, these integrated teams will provide a vital layer of early intervention and wraparound services.”

The ministry says Richmond is one of the first school-district communities to launch the ICY teams, among a few other locations including Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows, and the Comox Valley.

This is part of an ongoing initiative, as the province has committed money for funding teams in 20 school districts by next year.

“Having the Integrated Child and Youth teams working so closely with school districts means that children, youth and families will have greater access to additional supports during the vulnerable years of their child’s life,” Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh, said.

“We have heard from students how important their mental health is to their educational success and overall health and well-being,” Singh added.

The ministry adds that the province has seen an increase in mental-health needs, adding that more than 28,000 children and youth receive community mental health services per year.

“Integrated Child and Youth teams fill gaps and better co-ordinate mental-health and substance-use care, making it easier for families in Richmond to access the help they need, when and where they need it,” Whiteside added.