The Youth Wellness Unit at the Moncton Hospital opened in 2014, and since then, they have helped around 44 youth who have required in patient psychiatric care.
The unit assists youth who are dealing with a number of mental health concerns.
Director of Addictions and Mental Health For Horizon Jill Leblanc-Farquharson says they could include anxiety, depression or eating disorders, or if a family has a child with a diagnosis, and their behaviour has become very difficult at home, “The Child or Adolescent Psychiatrist or ER Psychiatrist would make a recommendation to determine if an admission would be appropriate or not.”
Leblanc-Farquharson says, “Things like anxiety and depression or social anxiety are really diagnosis that can be monitored and effective tools can be provided when they leave the unit.”
She adds that the stigma of mental health is eroding, which is a good thing, “People are becoming more acceptant. So now, youth are feeling more confident and courageous to talk about the challenges they have and the successes they’ve had.”
The youth are offered mindfulness activities, art and pet therapy in their outdoor centre that just opened this summer…….and they have access to a number of therapists including pharmacists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, RN’s and Social Workers.
The average length of stay in the unit is 10 to 28 days.