Children and youth in Peterborough are being encouraged to take advantage of a local resource if they need to “talk now” about emotional or behavioural challenges.
The Talk Now Child, Youth and Family Walk-in Clinic, a mental health resource available with no appointment necessary, has adjusted its hours for the summer.
Located at Peterborough Youth Services at 459 Reid Street, the clinic will run on Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. in July and August, instead of its usual 2 to 6 p.m. schedule.
Talk Now is a collaborative initiative of the Peterborough Ontario Health Team delivered in partnership with seven community agencies, including Kinark Child and Family Services, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Peterborough Family Health Team, Peterborough Youth Services, Fourcast, Canopy, and Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR).
CMHA HKPR communications and community relations specialist Caitlin Morris told kawarthaNOW the walk-in clinic services remain the same and the change in hours “is aimed to accommodate families this summer” when their routines and availability often shift.
The ultimate hope through the adjustment to the Talk Now walk-in clinic hours is “to support more youth and families,” Morris added.
The Talk Now walk-in clinic offers dedicated barrier-free mental health walk-in counselling for children, youth, and families navigating behavioural and emotional challenges.
Mental health services providers from Peterborough Youth Services and partner agencies are on-site, available to meet people in-person every Tuesday afternoon.
“We know children and youth are struggling, and we want them to know they’re not alone,” said Matt Sheridan, child and youth mental health program director at Peterborough Youth Services, in a media release. “This clinic is here for them — no referrals, no long waits, just real help when they need it.”
Staffed by a nurse practitioner and therapists, the clinic offers single-session counselling or therapy to address immediate concerns and develop a plan, support connecting to longer-term services if needed, and confidential virtual services available as often as needed.
While single-session therapy is a therapeutic model that supports clients to work through a presenting issue and develop a plan within one session, clients can access the therapy as often as they need. Follow-up with the nurse practitioner and psychiatry is necessary in many cases, and is still offered on a walk-in basis to be as accessible to clients as possible.
Staff members collaborate as a virtual team and regularly meet to work through logistical details and participate in clinical supervision. The clinic is overseen by the steering committee made up of senior leaders of the participating agencies.
