Cambridge is set to get a new wellness center just for youth.
The province is putting money into 10 more wellness hubs across Ontario, and Cambridge is one of the spots chosen.
This center will offer free services like mental health care, primary health check-ups, and addiction help for young people between 12 and 25. They’ll also be able to find community support, social programs, and help with finding jobs.
Jess Dixon, the MPP for Kitchener South-Hespeler, said this is a huge gain for local youth and their families.
“Having access to free, youth-friendly mental health and addiction services in one convenient spot will make it so much easier for them to get the help they need,” Dixon said in a release “This is about breaking down barriers and making sure young people in our community can get the support they deserve, close to home.”
These new places add on top of 22 already running hubs across the province, pushing the total up to 32.
We don’t yet know when exactly the Cambridge hub will open its doors.
Mental Health Worries Among Young People
Since COVID hit, many experts have been raising alarms about worsening mental health – especially among youth. The latest Youth Impact Survey by Waterloo Region’s Children and Youth Planning Table backs that up clearly.
About half of those surveyed say their mental health is only fair or poor. One in four feels low or depressed while nearly 40 percent say they often feel sad or hopeless.
Tracy Elop from Camino Wellbeing called these findings “alarming.” These worrying stats have pushed groups to focus more on young people’s well-being and have led to government moves like setting up this new Cambridge hub.
“Healthcare is essential to the well-being of our community, and mental health plays a critical role in that,” Cambridge MPP Brian Riddell said. “These Youth Wellness Hubs are a proactive way to address challenges early on.”
