New Northumberland wellness hub 'a beacon of hope and support for our young people': Port Hope mayor

Local Journalism Initiative

May 10, 2024 at 10:16 a.m.·5 min read

With the May 2 announcement that a new youth wellness centre is coming to Port Hope, Olena Hankivsky ultimately hopes "we don't have any young person left behind" in Northumberland County when it comes to getting help with mental health and/or addiction challenges.

The mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope shared with kawarthaNOW her thoughts around the province's launch of a Youth Wellness Hub (YWH) to serve Port Hope and surrounding areas. The Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) network aims to make it faster and easier for young people across the province to connect to mental health and substance use services.

"The most exciting part is that youth are going to have a place to go in our community, and not only have access to a number of different activities — whether that be skills-building or recreational activities or a safe space to be after school or on weekends — but to basically be with other youth," Hankivsky said.

"Also, it will be a space to allow them entry into getting help if they have a difficult moment they're confronting, a problem they're experiencing, a place to go (where) they'll feel like they can walk through the door and they can get the help that they need, when they need it, without any kind of stigma."

The Port Hope hub is one of 10 new additions to the network of 22 YWHs already opened since 2020, bringing the total to 32 across the province.

"This innovative initiative stands as a beacon of hope and support for our young people, offering a comprehensive range of services from mental health and substance use supports to primary health care and social integration," the mayor said in a statement.

"By investing in the well-being of our youth, we are investing in the future of our community. Let's continue to empower our young people to thrive, not just survive, in these challenging times."

The provincial government is striving to improve mental health and addictions services throughout Ontario and support people and their families living with mental health and substance use challenges, according to Sylvia Jones, Ontario's deputy premier and health minister, in a media release.

"As we expand the number of (YWHs) across the province, young people in Port Hope can connect to the mental health and addictions care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home," Jones said.

Beginning in 2025, the new hub will be permanently located at 15 Cavan Street in Port Hope. The goal is to connect youth aged 12 to 25 and their families in Northumberland County and Alderville First Nation, to convenient and free mental health, substance use and primary care services in a safe, youth-friendly space.

Rural communities in the area will also be supported by a mobile hub model, making it easier for youth to drop in for in-person counselling or peer support close to where they live, the media release noted.

The hub will provide other services that include family support, education, employment, housing and access to community programs such as financial assistance for recreational programs and legal support. These services will focus on delivering culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care, according to the province.

"Our government realizes that there are youth across the province who need mental health supports closer to home, so they can continue to thrive in our rural communities," said Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini.

"This new (YWH) in Port Hope will serve the youth across Northumberland County and ensure they have sufficient wrap-around supports and receive better quality care when they need it most."

Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established a provincial network of 22 YWHs that have connected 43,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for over 168,000 visits.

"Port Hope's new (YWH) will be a place for young people to feel safe and connected to a community that supports them and helps equip them with the tools they need to face life's challenges," added Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions, in the media release.

In addition to the Port Hope site, the province announced four other hubs will open in Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan, and Brampton. The other five hubs that are part of the YWH Ontario program, with locations to be announced, will be funded through the 2024 budget to the tune of $8.3 million over three years.

Today, the current 22 Youth Wellness Hubs operating across the province serve more than 31 communities: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain, Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton, Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, east Toronto, Wellington-Guelph, west Toronto, and Windsor-Essex.

Overall, Ontario says it’s spending $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services, and expand programs through its Roadmap to Wellness. Roadmap to Wellness is a plan to build Ontario’s mental health and addictions system.

"The government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs," the release noted.

In Northumberland, Rebound Child and Youth Services will be taking the lead for the new hub.

"I am thrilled to welcome Rebound Child and Youth Services Northumberland and their network partners into the (YWHO) network," said Dr. Jo Henderson, executive director of YWHO.

"This critical investment provides young people in Northumberland County with an inclusive, welcoming space where they can walk in and access a full range of integrated mental health, substance use health, primary care, housing, employment, recreation, and other support services that meet their individual level of need. Together we continue to work towards positive outcomes with and for all youth in Ontario."

In a May 3 media release, Cameco announced it was supporting Northumberland County's new YWH with a $500,000 donation. Cameco is one of the largest global providers of uranium fuel. Its donation will help with expenses associated with renovating the building to establish a safe and inviting space for individuals seeking mental health support, the release noted.

Natalie Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, KawarthaNOW

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