Young people in Kamloops, as well as surrounding areas, will have access to much-needed mental-health and substance-use supports at a new Foundry centre.

Once open, Foundry Kamloops will offer young people aged 12-24 and their families welcoming and appropriate services to fit their unique needs, such as drop-in counselling, physical and sexual health care, youth and family peer support and social services.

“A new Foundry centre for youth in Kamloops will give young people a safe and judgment-free space to find mental-health, wellness and substance-use supports right in their own community,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “I look forward to celebrating the opening of the centre, which will help countless youth get the help they need.”

Foundry Kamloops will be operated by Interior Community Services and is the third of four new Foundry centres announced recently. Currently, 13 Foundry centres are open throughout the province, including Vancouver-Granville, North Shore (North Vancouver), Campbell River, Ridge Meadows, Abbotsford, Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria, Penticton, Richmond, Terrace, Comox Valley and Langley.

“We’re thrilled to announce that another Foundry centre is coming to a community in BC,” said Dr. Steve Mathias, executive director, Foundry. “We recognize that as a health-care system and Province, we need to provide stronger and better supports for our young people who may be looking for help for a number of reasons: mental health; substance use; physical health; and employment. The opening of Foundry Kamloops will continue to expand access to free and confidential health and wellness supports, and ensure that communities are able to support young people and meet them wherever they’re at.”

The Province will be providing annual funding toward operations and services at Foundry Kamloops, as well as one-time funding of $1 million toward the establishment of the centre.

An additional eight new Foundry centres are in development in Burns Lake, East Kootenay (Cranbrook), Port Hardy, Sea to Sky (Squamish), Surrey, Cariboo-Chilcotin (Williams Lake), Fort St. John and Tri-Cities. In addition, Foundry provincial virtual services can be accessed from anywhere in the province through the Foundry BC app, by phone or foundrybc.ca/virtual.

Enhancing supports for youth living with mental-health and substance-use needs is an integral part of A Pathway to Hope, B.C.’s roadmap for building the comprehensive system of mental-health and addictions care for British Columbians.

Quotes:

Val Janz, chief operating officer, Interior Community Services, lead agency for Foundry Kamloops –

“The community of Kamloops is very excited to be announced as a future Foundry centre location. The past few years in particular, during the pandemic and the opioid crisis, have highlighted the need for enhanced social and medical services and peer support for youth. Foundry Kamloops will provide a single access point for youth and their families to get their needs addressed in a timely and co-ordinated manner.”

Mother of 13-year-old –

“As a parent of a teen, knowing there is a dedicated place, like a Foundry centre, for my child to access free and confidential information about sexual health, mental wellness or whatever they don’t want to necessarily talk to me about is very comforting.”

Learn More:  

Learn about A Pathway to Hope, our government’s vision for mental health and addictions care in B.C.: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021MMHA0049-001787

Foundry: foundrybc.ca

Interior Community Services: www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca