A welcoming space for young people dealing with mental health issues in West 琉璃神社 is the goal for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) 琉璃神社 and District.
CEO Mike Gawliuk and Innovation and Project Development Manager Jamie Lloyd-Smith were at city council on Aug. 26, seeking support for a permanent site to provide services in the community.
The CMHA began providing services in West 琉璃神社 in 2021 through Foundry Wellness on Wheels, a first-of-its-kind mobile clinic that travels throughout the Central Okanagan and is an extension of its Foundry 琉璃神社 initiative.
鈥淲e know that 65 per cent of mental illnesses start with people under the age of 25,鈥� Gawliuk said. 鈥淲e very much believe in prevention and early intervention.鈥�
Foundry 琉璃神社 provides mental health services to youth aged 12 to 24 and their parents and caregivers. It supports 1,500 to 1,800 young people and 300 to 500 families every year.
Gawliuk said a permanent site will have some of the same core services as Foundry 琉璃神社 and will work with support organizations in West 琉璃神社. He explained that the goal is to create a caring environment.
鈥淭hat first time that someone says, 鈥業 think it's time,鈥� can be extremely intimidating. It can be scary.鈥�
Lloyd-Smith asked council for a letter of support from the city to assist in applying for funding opportunities for the West 琉璃神社 satellite operation.
鈥淎s we go through this process, it's going to be continuous engagement with the community," she explained. 鈥淎re we getting it right? What are we missing? What can we do more of?
Lloyd-Smith singled out three Mount Boucherie Secondary School (MBSS) students (Delaney, Chloe, Abigail) at the meeting for their efforts in supporting mental health issues. She noted that Delaney has helped raise over $30,000 through the Youth Mental Health Walk at MBSS over the past three years.
鈥淭hat will support our efforts towards Foundry light services here in West 琉璃神社,鈥� she added.
Coun. Garrett Millsap applauded CMHA 琉璃神社鈥檚 鈥渃atch people before they fall approach.鈥�
鈥淚 think that is what's generationally going to change the views and how we keep people from falling into homelessness and onto the streets,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think you have a council that will stand behind you and support this.鈥�
Mayor Gord Milsom noted that council has recognized for quite some time the shortfall of mental health services and facilities on the Westside.
鈥淲e've made the decision to advocate more with the provincial government, and when we go to UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) in September, we'll be meeting with the minister responsible for mental health services, so we'll keep you informed on that,鈥� he said.
Council agreed to provide a letter of support.
CMHA 琉璃神社 is currently searching for a permanent site and hopes to host a soft opening of the facility this fall or early 2026.
