North Okanagan residents can learn more about mental health resources for youth.
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s suicide awareness group, the Mental Illness Family Support Centre and the North Okanagan Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Local Action Team will host a panel session and community resource fair Nov. 23.
“We are excited to be able to bring service providers in our community together on such an important issue impacting our youth. In our work, we find navigating services and finding resources to be a challenge for individuals and families, this is a chance to find the information you are looking for to help youth in our community,” said Julia Payson, CMHA executive director.
Dr. Michael Ocana will lead a discussion on youth addictions and prevention through relationships to be followed by a panel discussion to include a youth, a family member, a high school counsellor and a psychologist.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Ocana, the head of the adolescent psychiatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital, come and speak on such an important topic in our community,” said Tara Day, manager at the Mental Illness Family Support Centre.
Today, 85 per cent of Canadian teenagers have consumed alcohol and 50 per cent have consumed illegal drugs.
