Tim Heath vividly recalls the day a young person with severe anxiety arrived at the Youth Wellness Hub Sarnia-Lambton where he serves as manager of client services.
Their parent brought them in, seeking guidance and support. He recognizes the courage it takes for youth to reach out, and he’s committed to ensuring they receive compassionate care in a safe, welcoming environment. “Young people often know that something is wrong, but they can’t always identify what it is,” said Heath. “They don’t want their teachers, parents or friends to think less of them.”
The youth met with a nurse practitioner, received a psychiatry referral, and began initial treatments while awaiting follow-up care. They connected with an intake worker and peer navigator, gradually building trust while creating a treatment plan.
“This client was able to get their care started by just walking into the building without an appointment,” said Heath. “This is just an example of what this could look like. It is satisfying to know that the connections to care can be made quickly and to see the relief that both the youth and their parent experience is rewarding.”
The Youth Wellness Hub Ontario of Sarnia-Lambton, 190 Front St N. provides accessible mental health and addiction support for youth aged 12 to 25 and their families. Open since August 2023, the hub has quickly become a vital resource.
According to a report by Paula Reaume-Zimmer, president and CEO of Bluewater Health, the hub has already supported 282 unique individuals through over 700 visits, with demand continuing to grow. Heath states between April and September of this year alone, the hub received 875 visits, assisting about 100 to 150 youth each month.
“We anticipate that these numbers will continue to increase,” said Heath. “Youth in the community are still learning about the Youth Wellness Hub and what it can do for them.”
The Youth Wellness Hub offers on-site services such as psychiatry, counseling, peer support, and addiction recovery all under one roof.
Historically, youth in the community have faced significant barriers to mental health support due to stand alone services and long wait times. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, youth mental health-related emergency visits have surged nearly 70 percent over the past decade, with hospitalization rates rising 55 percent across Canada. The demand for addiction support has also escalated due in part to the lasting effects of the pandemic on youth mental health.
Donna Morreau, integrated director of mental health and addiction services at Bluewater Health, said that in the past, youth in crisis often turned to emergency departments, inpatient units, and addiction services at Bluewater Health for immediate support. Some required inpatient stabilization, while others could be managed through ongoing outpatient services. Bluewater health and service providers couldn’t keep up with the demand for youth and waitlists for critical services were lengthy.
“This not only benefits the individuals receiving care but also alleviates pressures on our emergency and inpatient units, enabling the hospital to focus its resources on those who require urgent or specialized support,” said Morreau.
The hub was created for youth, through a collaboration between the Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent, St. Clair Child and Youth Services, Bluewater Health, the Bluewater Health Foundation and Spoken Hope Youth Advisory Committee.
Centralizing mental health and addiction services in one location makes it easier for youth and their families to connect with support without the burden of navigating multiple service providers.
“A community-based setting offers a more welcoming, personal environment than a hospital’s emergency room or inpatient unit, allowing youth to engage in care that feels better suited to their needs,” said Morreau.