New youth wellness hub coming to Cambridge

A new youth wellness hub is coming to Cambridge.

The provincial government is funding 10 additional wellness hubs in Ontario, including the local site.

The Cambridge facility will provide free mental health, primary care, and addiction services to youth aged 12 to 25. There will also be access to community and social supports, along with employment services.

Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP, Jess Dixon, called it a big step forward for young people and their families in the area.

“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.”

The 10 new sites will build upon a network of 22 existing hubs, bringing the provincial total to 32.

It’s not clear when the Cambridge youth wellness hub will begin operating. 

Young people’s mental health a concern

Since the pandemic, experts have been warning of a significant decline in peoples mental health. Youth have been particularly impacted. The results of the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region’s 2023 Youth Impact Survey are clear indicator.

It shows around half of respondents reporting their mental health as fair or poor. One in four said it’s low or depressed and almost 40 per cent said they feel sad or hopeless.

Tracy Elop, CEO, Camino Wellbeing and Mental Health previously called the results “alarming.” These causes for concern have prompted a number of organizations to focus on young people’s mental well-being and spurred government action, including the newly announced 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.”