Clinic Reaches Youth

By Marion Selfridge, Youth Outreach Worker

The Victoria Youth Clinic, a program of the James Bay Community Project, is a drop-in medical clinic for youth 12-24. It operates out of the Project on Michigan Street and at the Youth Empowerment Society building in downtown Victoria. Our team of family physicians, nurses, counsellor, outreach worker and manager are assisted by a great team of volunteers, a lab worker, psychiatrist and community workers from other agencies.

Although the Youth Clinic has a strong focus on sexual health, we see many young people who are struggling with mental health concerns. Anxiety and depression are two common challenges youth are struggling with. A common concern in the community is that youth who have been identified with mental health issues do not always have a family doctor. The clinic can provide compassion, non-judgemental care and timely referrals to community resources to these youth.

Thanks to the United Way of Greater Victoria, we are pleased that each week we are able to offer counselling support to our youth by our nurse/counsellor, Kim Daly, for free, reducing the barriers to getting the help that they need. We have been very fortunate to have Dr. Laura Chapman, one of the psychiatrists in the community, work with our youth once a month, providing valuable assessment and treatment support for the physicians. This means that youth, especially those who are street involved and often slip through the gaps in services, are able to actually get the help they need, and we can serve them more effectively.

This past April, the Victoria Youth Clinic hosted a workshop for youth workers in the community. Over 50 people who work with youth in schools, youth custody, forensics, shelters, detox and the street, came together to learn more about psychiatric medications and how to encourage youth to use them safely and effectively, as well as an opportunity to network and share information between agencies and people. The workshop was very well received and participants left feeling better informed and more connected to other community workers.

This month a new pilot project is beginning where a child and youth psychiatrist, Dr. Peggy Firstbrook, will be joining our clinics twice a month to support more of the youth we see with mental health issues.

We are excited to be able to provide what youth and families are searching for - a collaborative and comprehensive team of professionals who understand youth and their realities in today's society.