A youth mental health centre in Moncton is getting new federal support to reach more young people.
Atlantic Wellness will receive $1.3 million over four years to expand therapist capacity, strengthen bilingual programming, increase outreach in rural and francophone communities, and help youth access support earlier.
Rising demand for youth mental health care
Executive director Andrew LeBlanc said demand for youth mental health support continues to grow across southeastern New Brunswick.
He said the centre provided more than 5,500 free clinical service hours last year and served 450 youth, the highest in its 14‑year history.
“We need to continue to adapt and grow with those needs to make sure the services are there,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc said the new support will add two therapists, a community engagement liaison, and a full‑time outreach therapist.
He added that the outreach work will help reach youth in communities such as Memramcook and Bouctouche, and strengthen partnerships with schools, Integrated Youth Services and community organizations.
“This is really laying the baseline for what our strategic growth is going to look like for 4 years,” he said.
The community engagement liaison will support youth advocacy, provide mental health education, help families navigate services, and work with partners to improve referral pathways.
The role will also help youth facing barriers related to housing, food insecurity, employment readiness and system navigation.
More support in both official languages
Atlantic Wellness co‑founder and clinical services director Danielle Whalen said the new support will help youth access care earlier and in both official languages.
“So we’re really, you know, encouraging people to spread the word that we offer free services,” Whalen said.
She said bilingual expansion will help youth speak in the language that feels most natural when dealing with difficult experiences.
Whalen said the new support will also improve data collection to show who is being reached, where barriers remain and how support can be improved.
“It strengthens our ability to respond when young people reach out,” she said.
Atlantic Wellness currently supports youth and young adults aged 12 to 25, offering free one‑on‑one therapy, a mental health clinic, school presentations, support groups and an internship program with nine graduate students.
Moncton-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor made the funding announcement on Thursday and said the support comes as youth mental health pressures continue to grow.
“We all certainly know the work that Atlantic Wellness does is really tremendous within our community,” she said.
“I hope this four‑year commitment also provides some stability to help in your organizational planning.”
Atlantic Wellness says the funding will help reduce barriers related to cost, geography, language and system navigation, and strengthen the path between asking for help and receiving support.
