Health Minister Terry Lake and Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux today issued the following joint statement in recognition of Child and Youth Mental Health Day on May 7, 2014:

“The challenge of mental illness is not isolated to adults. Approximately one in seven children and youth will experience significant mental health concerns affecting their interactions at home, school, with peers and in the community. These children and youth struggle every day to live and to play.

“We’ve heard from parents and families and from children - and we are listening. In partnership with Doctors of BC, we have invested $1.3 million in a Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Collaborative that’s being first rolled out in the Interior Health region. Focusing on children, youth and families, this program coordinates community organizations with health services, to help patients more quickly and easily access important mental health care.

“We have also worked with Doctors of BC to improve training for family physicians to identify mental illness earlier on and to better access care and treatment for families with children who have a mental illness. To date, more than 600 family doctors have received training regarding assessment and treatment of children and youth with mental health problems and are working with school counsellors, pediatricians, psychiatrists and child and youth mental health clinicians in their communities.

“The Ministry of Children and Family Development is also hard at work developing a more efficient intake process to reduce wait times for families to access community mental health services; a new online service map for families so it's easier for them to find information about services in their community; and a new six-bed complex care unit located on the grounds of the Maples Adolescent Treatment Centre to meet the specific needs of children in care who have complex needs, including mental health challenges.

“For at-risk youth who are homeless or nearly homeless, we have doubled the capacity of the Vancouver Inner City Youth team, which connects them through outreach work in downtown Vancouver and St. Paul’s Hospital. The team’s psychiatrists, registered psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioner, social workers, occupational therapist and rehabilitation assistants take to the street to find and support youth in getting their lives back.

“These programs and supports are helping young people living with mental illness on their journey to becoming successful and contributing adults.

“I encourage all British Columbians to acknowledge Child and Youth Mental Health Day and learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health.”

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)