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Letters: Help with youths’ mental health in Richmond

A Richmond News reader believes more should be done to help youth's mental health when they age out of the system
jennifer-whiteside-and-karen-barclay
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside (left) and Karen Barclay, director of mental health and substance abuse with Vancouver Coastal Health, at a media announcement of the Integrated Child and Youth teams program in Richmond.

Dear Editor,

Re: “Mental health hubs for children and youth,” News, Jan. 12.

That’s a start but only a tiny drop in the bucket. What happens to the 17- or 18-year-old that gets this service after they age out at 19? Then their only option is to use the adult services which are woefully inadequate. A 10-minute telehealth appointment once every three to four weeks doesn’t cut it.

How about working on getting more psychiatrists specialized in trauma and addiction into the field. This problem isn’t going anywhere with the state of care available.

Doreen Sommerfield

RICHMOND