Help for addicted youth and mental health hub coming to Brampton

Ontario is committing to more support for youth dealing with addiction and mental health concerns with a new hub to serve Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.

Set to open next year, the new Youth Wellness Hub will be in Brampton with wrap-around services for youth and families living with mental health and substance use challenges.

The hub will be open to youth aged 12 to 25 and their families offering free mental health, substance use and primary care services for Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon residents “in a safe, youth-friendly space,” the province says.

Peel’s upcoming youth hub is one of 10 new facilities the government is adding to a network of 22 hubs already opened since 2020. The province says the hubs have connected 43,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for over 168,000 visits between 2020 and 2023.

“As we expand the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province, young people in Peel Region can connect to the mental health and addictions care they need, in one convenient location, closer to home,” Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said in a statement.

The province will work with the Peel Children’s Aid Society in designing the Peel hub along with youth and community partners across the region to meet the needs of all communities including Indigenous, First Nations and Black youth who will be at the centre of the hub’s model.

“By continuing to expand our network of Youth Wellness Hubs, our government is ensuring youth across the province have convenient access to the highest-quality mental health and addictions supports, when and where they need them,” said Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

The province says the new Peel Youth Wellness Hub will give young people a place to feel safe and connected “to a community that supports them and helps equip them with the tools they need to face life’s challenges.”