Foundry Kelowna having big impact on youth, one year later

A local centre offering mental health services and other supports for youth and their families celebrated one year of service this week.

Foundry Kelowna is a mental-health and substance-abuse clinic for youth ages 12 to 24 and their families.

The clinic aims to make accessing help, support and services easy for youth suffering with mental health and drug problems.

“When we first opened Foundry, the goal was to make sure simply that youth had an opportunity to get the help they needed, the way they needed it and when they needed it,” said Jessica Samuels, spokesperson for the Kelowna branch of Canadian Mental Health Association, which operates Foundry Kelowna.

Since opening in September 2017, more than 1,500 youth have come to Foundry Kelowna looking for help. On average, youth return to Foundry three times to access various services.

“There are 25 partner agencies working together, as seamlessly as we can, to reduce the burden young people can feel when they are looking for help,” said Foundry Kelowna manager, Melissa Feddersen. “When a youth walks through our doors, it’s a safe and welcoming environment where they only have to tell their story once. That means getting help is less traumatic and less frustrating.”

Onsite partners connect youth with counsellors, physicians, income assistance, housing and employment services.

Although Foundry Kelowna is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it offers many programs and support groups every day of the week.

In addition, Foundry has worked with more than 300 local families in the past year.

“When a young person comes in, sometimes we discover that mom or dad is also experiencing the chaos that comes from navigating services for their child,” said Fedderson. “We work with the whole family.” Foundry Kelowna is operated by the local branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“We are now one year in, and we have learned so much from youth, families and our partners,” said CMHA Kelowna executive director Shelagh Turner.

“By working together, all of us can continue to (be) better at connecting young people to the right help at the right time.”

Foundry Kelowna is part of a network of seven centres across B.C., in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Victoria, Prince George and Campbell River.

An additional four centres are expected to open soon.

Moving forward, Foundry Kelowna will continue addressing the needs of local youth, said Samuels.

“We’re making sure we have the partners and services available to address the type of help they’re asking for,” she said.

“We really want people to know to come to Foundry if they need help. We’re there for them and they’re not alone.”

For more information, go online to foundrybc.ca./kelowna.