“We really wanted to make early intervention better for all youth,” says Lisa Jeffs, project manager of the Youth Wellness Centre in Hamilton. “We recognized that we were offering a Cadillac model for early psychosis, but when it came to youth with first episode mood, anxiety or addictions issues, those teens faced long waits to access assessment and treatment.” The Youth Wellness Centre is an innovative service that will close system gaps by focusing on identifying young people experiencing mental health issues for the first time, and getting them help at an early stage. It will also support those who are moving into adult services.
EENet’s latest Promising Practice looks at the centre. Promising Practices profiles innovative practices and initiatives from around Ontario.