Youth, children and their families don’t have to wait for immediate help in Peel Region.
Despite stories of long wait times to get to see a registered clinician, there is always Tangerine and 24.7 Crisis Services for the very young to age 18 and their caregivers, said guests of the most recent Community Check-in hosted by Coach Miguel Martinez for the Erin Mills Connects community collaborative.
If you need support to access mental health supports, contact WhereToStart.ca or by phone at 905-451-4655.
Omar Goodgame, youth engagement coordinator, and Crisis Response Workers Jacquie Higgins and Jennifer Morrow of EveryMind Mental Health Services spoke to community members at two separate sessions during the week of Feb. 12. Tangerine is part of EveryMind, and EveryMind and the Canadian Mental Health Association share responsibility for 24.7 Crisis Services, depending on the age of the person in need. Formerly Peel Children’s Centre, EveryMind delivers “free, confidential and high quality mental health services to children, youth, young adults (up to age 25) and families in the Region of Peel” (EveryMind.ca).
The wait is longer, however, for an intake interview to get a dedicated counselor or program requiring a 45-minute conversation with an Access and Intake Specialist, said Omar. This isn’t a reason to worry, assured the EveryMind team.
“We would not leave [those in need] alone,” said Jacquie, who has spent decades in a crisis response role. “We will stay with them until we can make sure things are settled.”
When Miguel asked when young people needed the most help, Jacquie said that the highest number of calls involved parent-child conflict. “That’s puberty and teens figuring out their individuality,” she explained. If it’s an urgent situation, Crisis Response Workers like Jacquie and Jennifer will work with the family and/or the young person in the home, a community location, or sometimes a school. She said that parents and guardians as well as youth can find support programs by visiting wheretostart.ca.
“We will stay with them [people in distress] until we can make sure things are settled.”
Jacquie Higgins, Crisis Response Worker
To Miguel’s question about today’s biggest determinant of mental health for youth, Jennifer said her, “initial thought is around supports. Those things are super, super important, like having people at school that are checking in on you…somebody in your life that you can go to talk to, whether that is the crisis line…or a friend or family member.” Omar added, “Knowing that, for a young person, a family member or caregiver, you are not alone.”
To learn more about EveryMind and other urgent services for psychological support in Peel Region, watch the abbreviated recording (50 minutes).
• Service offers a 45-minute consultations Monday-Friday, service can be provided in French
• There is no requirement to have a mental health diagnosis to access services
• Consultations are by appointment only and can be in-person, over the phone or video conferencing
• Caregivers and youths can request an appointment time by visiting the website and completing a request form
• Calls can be initiated by caregivers, child/youth or others in the community such as relatives or school staff
• Crisis response services are available
in-person (office and in-home) and
virtually; available from 9 am to 9 pm, five days a week (Monday-Friday)
• Supportive follow-up calls offered after every crisis intervention
• Referral assistance to get connected to other services, as needed
- A coordinated intake network that helps children, youth and families access and navigate provincially-funded mental health services in Peel Region. It is a partnership of Associated Youth Services of Peel, EveryMind and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinics at Trillium Health Partners and William Osler Health System.
- Groups and webinars for children, youth and caregivers
- Request an intake to gain further services
- Peel Infant-Parent Program (PIPP) helps parents and guardians understand their young children. PIPP is a partnership between the Region of Peel, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and EveryMind Mental Health Services
Youth Engagement Opportunities
- Youth Engagement Committee
- Eight-Week Online Youth Peer Support Training over Zoom for Youth 18-25 years
- New Mentality: Peel Chapter (a provincial network of youth-led groups and adult allies working to amplify youth voice to influence change within the mental health system and beyond)
KIDS' WELLNESS 