A new facility to help young people struggling with their mental health and addictions has opened in Surrey.
The facility is open 12 hours a day, seven days a week and includes specialist services to support young people and their families affected by serious mental health challenges, addictions, eating disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The 7,000-square-foot facility at 101-7635 King George Blvd. will have nurses, allied health professionals, dietitians, physicians, psychiatrists, and administrative staff.
“Grouping these services in one location means young people can receive a spectrum of support for the challenges they are facing and stay connected to care when they need it,” a Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions press release said Thursday (Aug. 22).
The facility includes 11 consult rooms, an exam room, a medication room, three large group rooms, a screening room, a sensory room, a sacred space, a kitchen for meal support and cooking groups, and private offices. Parking is free for staff, patients and their families.
Geneva Healey, director for child and youth, young adult mental health and substance use services at Fraser Health, said the space has been designed to “create safety and security” for patients.
“The new site also strengthens partnerships with our youth and young adult services to do better quality work together. I hope that youth, families and their communities will feel collective care when they enter this building and know they do not have to solve their problems alone,” Healey said.
Several programs are relocating to the new site, including Fraser South Eating Disorders, Regional Eating Disorders Centralized Intake, Surrey Memorial Hospital Child and Youth Transition Team, Fraser South Short Term Assessment Response Team (START), Infant Clinic, Neuropsychiatry Clinic and the Youth Concurrent Disorder Program.
These programs served over 2,700 referrals last year.
“The spacious new facility will allow care teams to respond to increased demand, while providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for youth,” notes the release.
The Surrey Child and Youth Transition team, which launched in 2023, is expanding its staff and adding 10 new staff to support youth access to community mental health services.
“The challenges faced by young people are increasingly complex, and there are still barriers for them accessing the care they need,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “The care teams at this new facility provide a continuum of community-based services all in one spot, so that young people can receive seamless, co-ordinated care and feel supported throughout their journey.”
The Province invested $236 million over three years through budget 2023 to create more services for young people.
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