The Windsor-Essex Youth Wellness Hub is officially open at its permanent location on Eugenie Street.
The hub offers accessible and low-barrier mental health services to young people aged 12-25.
"You can access services here without wait times, there's a low barrier. The services are all free, we're open Monday-Friday from 1 until 7, you can just drop in, you don't have to make an appointment," said Kim Willis, Director of Communications and Mental Health Promotion, Canadian Mental Health Association-Windsor Essex County Branch.
She says the model has already had a positive impact when it opened at its temporary location at Maryvale in the city's west end
"We've seen 607 [individuals] since March of 2022 and now at we're in our new larger, more centralized location we're really hoping to spread the word and let people know we're here, we want to help, you're not alone," said Willis.
The Youth Wellness Hub is one of 22 facilities across the province using a similar model to address youth mental health.
"This model allows us not to have wait times and when a youth is in crisis they want to talk to someone immediately and often times they want to talk to someone in person. This model allows them to do that and see someone the day they come in," said Willis.
The CMHA also offers youth mental health services at The Bridge in Leamington and The House in Kingsville.
The official grand opening of the Youth Wellness Hub was celebrated Friday afternoon with dignitaries, community partners and donors.
The service is funded through the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
