Visits steadily increasing at Sudbury Youth Hub
The Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub, located in the YMCA building downtown on Durham Street, has seen more than 11,000 visits in the year it has been open.
Officials said Friday that they have seen a steady increase in youth accessing their services, ranging from mental health and addiction services to primary care, skills development and well-being activities.
It has become one of the busiest youth hubs in Ontario.
Officials at the Hub in Sudbury said in the past three months alone, they have provided $10,000 in transit fares to help youth access the centre.
“It’s quite an expense but we do see the value in it being able to help youth get to and from (here),” said Amanda Gates, Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub co-ordinator.
“We have had a couple of youth say when we are out of bus passes they have to walk an hour and a half home, and so we would rather make that a little bit easier safer for them, as well.”
The Sudbury Youth Wellness Hub, located in the YMCA building downtown on Durham Street, has seen more than 11,000 visits in the year it has been open. (Alana Everson/CTV News)
The Hub opened in June 2023 and now averages 60 visits a day from youths ages 12-25. It’s run by Compass, the lead agency for child and youth mental health in Greater Sudbury, and the hub is designed to address service gaps in mental health and addictions services.
“The whole point of the youth wellness hub is one-stop shop for youth dropping into the centre,” said Mark Fraser, Compass CEO.
“And that includes primary care mental health services, employment services. (It’s) also an opportunity to connect with peer support workers so that they can in turn help support the needs of every youth who drops into the centre.”
Officials said the number of youth accessing the space continues to grow and there has been a steady increase since last winter when the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth closed due to insolvency.
“We have been really busy. We have had a lot of great feedback from youth. A lot have told us that without this place they would have no where else to go,” said Gates.
The hub is funded by the provincial government but as more youth access the safe space, officials said there is an ongoing need for donations to help with food security, transportation and clothing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
opinion Tom Mulcair: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's train wreck of a final act
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader and political analyst Tom Mulcair puts a spotlight on the 'spectacular failure' of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's final act on the political stage.
B.C. mayor gets calls from across Canada about 'crazy' plan to recruit doctors
A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.
'There’s no support': Domestic abuse survivor shares difficulties leaving her relationship
An Edmonton woman who tried to flee an abusive relationship ended up back where she started in part due to a lack of shelter space.
opinion King Charles' Christmas: Who's in and who's out this year?
Christmas 2024 is set to be a Christmas like no other for the Royal Family, says royal commentator Afua Hagan. King Charles III has initiated the most important and significant transformation of royal Christmas celebrations in decades.
Baseball Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson dead at 65, reports say
Rickey Henderson, a Baseball Hall of Famer and Major League Baseball’s all-time stolen bases leader, is dead at 65, according to multiple reports.
Arizona third-grader saves choking friend
An Arizona third-grader is being recognized by his local fire department after saving a friend from choking.
Germans mourn the 5 killed and 200 injured in the apparent attack on a Christmas market
Germans on Saturday mourned the victims of an apparent attack in which authorities say a doctor drove into a busy outdoor Christmas market, killing five people, injuring 200 others and shaking the public’s sense of security at what would otherwise be a time of joy.
Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign
Blake Lively has accused her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to “destroy' her reputation in a legal complaint.
Oysters distributed in B.C., Alberta, Ontario recalled for norovirus contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall due to possible norovirus contamination of certain oysters distributed in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.