New mental health youth centre launches in Kelowna

Premier Christy Clark helped launch Foundry Kelowna on Monday, a new integrated youth-service centre for kids and teens in need of mental health care and social services.

Foundry Kelowna is one of a series of centres announced by the province in June 2016. The centres will bring existing services under one roof, so families have easy access to health care.

Other centres will also open in Vancouver's North Shore, Prince George, Campbell River and Abbotsford.

"We committed to creating a provincial network of integrated care facilities and these facilities, when we say integrated, really are intended to be 'one-stop-shop' for mental health," said Premier Christy Clark at the Kelowna launch.

Multiple agencies under one roof

Foundry Kelowna will be home to more than a dozen different agencies, services and health programs for youth.

"It allows for much earlier interventions, much earlier diagnosis and support, and it ensures that when conditions are emerging that they can be caught and treated before they become a much more serious problem," said Clark.

Young people can be referred to the new centre by a doctor, their school, a family member or they can walk in themselves if they are in need of help.

The B.C. Ministry of Health provided $3-million to help fund Foundry Kelowna, but organizing partners still hope to raise another $2-million over the next three years.

The Kelowna location on Kirschner Road is expected to be operational by spring 2017, following renovations.