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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.