How will I know the way?

By Stacie Byrne

As a service provider, you know what it’s like to walk through the doors of your office. You know who will greet you. You understand the ins and outs of what you offer. You know who is eligible for which programs and what referrals, if any, could take place.  However, for a child or youth and their families, these are the barriers, blocks and unknowns which cause confusion, fear, and embarrassment.

The Canadian Mental Health Association has found that only 1 in 5 children who need mental health services receives them. Two of the reasons being:

• They didn’t know what was out there.
• They didn’t know who to trust to ask for help.

For children, youth, and their families, trying to access services can be challenging. It can feel like a complicated web of referrals, paperwork, and appointments. They’re frightened of the unknown and feel as though they can only see a few feet ahead of them in the fog.  They’re embarrassed and don’t want to be turned away because they’re not eligible for a service.  Many have thoughts such as, ‘I don’t know what to say to get help,’ ‘What can these people do to help me anyways?’ or ‘I don’t want anyone else to find out.’

We need you — the people who offer services and supports to children and youth — to take a few minutes to complete our short, confidential, online survey. The information gathered here will be used by the CYMHSU Local Action Team to create a map of services, supports, and resources in Revelstoke called the ‘Pathways to Care’. The ‘Pathways to Care’ shows the network of local practitioners, services, and resources linked in our community that support children, youth and families with mental health and substance use challenges.

Email Stacie: [email protected]
Website: www.revelstokecymhsu.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RevelstokeCYMHSU/
Twitter: @rev_cymhsu