Pathstone launching youth walk-in program

Childhood sometimes isn’t as carefree as people would like to think.

And as children struggle with emotions and stress, Pathstone Mental Health is giving those aged six to 17 years old throughout Niagara a place to get the help they need.

Pathstone will be offering free one-on-one counselling sessions for children and teenagers, starting Feb. 27.

The organization’s early years and day treatment program manager, Linda Morrice, says it’s a service that has been lacking in Niagara for several years.

Although Niagara Child and Youth Services offered a similar walk-in program, “that was a long time ago,” she says, adding that even then it was only offered one day a week.

The new program, being run at the Branscombe Mental Health Centre, 1338 Fourth Ave. in St. Catharines, will run three days a week, Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The last appointment each day will be taken at 3:30 p.m.

A media release issued by Pathstone says the service is designed to help children and teenagers who are feeling sad, worried or angry; fighting with their parents; being bullied; dealing with personal issues, feeling like they might hurt themselves, suffering because someone has hurt them; getting in trouble, or feeling like they are being treated unfairly.

Morrice says any youth is welcome to use the walk-in service, regardless of whether or not they have had previous experience with Pathstone.

“These people could be clients, they might never be a client, they might be someone waiting for services. They could be from anywhere in the region,” she says.

Morrice says the service will include the involvement of staff from throughout Pathstone’s offices, including many staff members with extensive experience in short-term, one-on-one counselling sessions.

“We’re really fortunate because the crisis services team and our therapists are big a big part of this initiative,” she says. “They do this kind of work on a daily basis. They’re very use to meeting with people, and saying, ‘ What brought you to us today?’”

Those therapists are also advising other Pathstone staff who might be more experienced in other longterm treatments.

“They’re sort of informing and advising, especially for us who are used to working on a longer term with people coming for services,” she says.

“We’re really wanting to peel back the onion and find out why, but really that’s not what this counselling is about.”

Although the program is about to launch, Morrice says she’s still looking at ways to improve service.

“We’re looking at all we can do to make it the best model before we even start.”

Morrice says Pathstone staff researched similar programs while developing plans for its new service, including an adult walk-in program run by Canadian Mental Health Association, as well as one that Toronto’s East Metro Youth Services provides.

Some of the staff who are now working with Pathstone’s walkin service had previously been involved with the old Niagara Child and Youth Services program.

Pathstone is reaching out directly to youths to promote the service.

“We’re really fortunate to work with both our local (school boards), and the French boards as well. We actually have a great relationship through the mental health team with both school boards. We actually work very closely with them,” Morrice says.

Pathstone receives its funding from the Ministry of Child and Youth Services rather than OHIP, so health cards are not required for the free walk-in program.

The only cost that may be associated with a visit is a new $2 an hour parking fee.