New mental health services offered free of charge for Gatineau youth
Djeneba Dosso
As the newest addition to the Aire ouverte programming in Quebec, a location has opened its doors in the Outaouais region to offer young people mental health resources.
On October 2, Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant and Hull deputy Suzanne Tremblay proudly announced the launch of a new hub offering mental health services to young people between the ages of 12 and 25. Aire ouverte de Gatineau en Outaouais, located at 92 Saint-Raymond Blvd, is on the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais territory.
On site, young people can receive a network of services completely free of charge. A team of trained professionals has been put together to offer “support on a wide range of relational, personal or family concerns, which can affect all spheres of their lives.” These include virtual, telephone or in-person therapy, along with sexual health education and resources. Staff is also available to discuss any concerns that young people may have, ranging from sexuality, relationships, plans for the future, and more. Hours are flexible in accordance with young people’s work and school schedules and professionals are able to commute to a “safe space” where one may feel more comfortable talking if they are not wanting to do so at the Aire ouverte office or in their home.
Aire ouverte is not a novel initiative but an addition to a program which has been deployed all over Quebec to reach young people.
“The Aire ouverte program is a fine example of our government's efforts to offer more local services to young people in Quebec," said Social Services Minister Carmant. "Wherever the program is deployed, it is proving its worth. This first point of service in the Outaouais region will enable us to reach even more young people and offer them services specially designed for them, particularly in mental health, without having to make an appointment. I'm delighted that young people in Gatineau and the surrounding area will now be able to benefit too.”
Making an appointment with a professional is done confidentially with just a click through the Aire ouverte website.
It took a village to ensure the success of Aire ouverte de Gatineau en Outaouais. Many large organizations like Carrefours jeunesse emploi de l'Outaouais et des Collines, the Hull Soup Kitchen, Maisons de jeunes (Adojeune and Pontiac), Maison de quartier Notre-Dame, Dimension sportive et culturelle, Patro de Fort-Coulonge/Mansfield and Maison d'accueil Mutchmore, to name a few, expressed an interest in developing these services.
Local youth, families and partners also played a significant collaborative part in the inauguration of the service centre by pointing out the needs of Aire ouverte’s clientele, their realities and their concerns.
As part of the government’s 2022-2026 Interdepartmental Action Plan on Mental Health, Quebec poured $40 million into the program to eventually reach a total of 27 facilities in their territory. As of today, 24 facilities have an Aire ouverte point of service in the province.