Northumberland youth can now access free mental health services

Courtesy of Facebook

Youth in Northumberland can now access low-barrier, free mental health and peer support services.

Youth Wellness Hub Ontario (YWHO) Northumberland conducted a soft-launch of these services in March.

“YWHO Northumberland is the first Youth Wellness Hub in Ontario to launch virtual services before opening our physical hub location, demonstrating our team's dedication to supporting youth in the county” said Sam Rockbrune, Executive Director of Rebound Child & Youth Services.

Youth can access these services through an online referral form. A helpful guide has been created outlining how to complete the form and what to expect during the intake process.

“We’ve seen a number of referrals come through from youth themselves, family members seeking support for their loved ones, and community agencies requesting support for their clients” says Alexis Forde, YWHO Northumberland Care Coordinator and Hub Manager. 

“I recently spoke with a parent in the community who expressed relief after learning about our available counselling services. After her daughter shared that she was struggling with her mental health, neither knew where to get started. With the launch of virtual services, YWHO Northumberland can now be a recognizable spot for youth and families to access services and start getting the support they need.”

Currently, the agency offers virtual mental health and substance use counselling with a clinician, as well as peer support sessions with their peer support specialist. Construction is taking place on a building in Port Hope, where more services are expected to be announced this summer.