The number of Prince George children and youth needing support from Intersect Youth and Family Services usually ticks along at around 15 to 20 new intakes a month.
That level held steady throughout last year as the pandemic settled in.
But in January, intakes tripled to 45 and demand stayed high.
Intersect executive director Shannon Croy said in a news release the common feelings of weariness, frustration, isolation, and disappointment people around the world are trying to manage are clearly being felt by young people as well.
“I think people are really getting burned out,” Croy said.
“They’re not OK.”
Since it was launched in 1984, Intersect serves approximately 500 children and youth a year through a mix of mental health services, supports for youth in the justice system, and a partnership with School District 57 that provides an alternative Grade 8-12 school with extra mental health supports at their facility on 3rd Avenue.
The pandemic has put a crunch on community social service organizations as well, as agencies struggled to rapidly reshape vital services to meet pandemic measures.
However, Intersect is proud to have kept its services going throughout the pandemic.
“We never closed down. We continued to operate – safely, but never closed,” Croy said.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen in this past year is just how adaptable people are. Our team knows how important our services are. Mental health services are health care – there’s no option to say, ‘we’re done,’ or to close down for a while. We know our kids need us now more than ever.”
The Ministry of Children and Family Development funds Intersect’s New Directions service, which is part of the Youth Justice Program.
The outreach and support services connect with youth who have active probation orders to help them set and achieve goals in whatever way works for the youth.
Intersect is also one of the partners in the Foundry location in PG which opened in 2017.
It is a network of youth centers and online supports throughout BC that removes barriers and increases access to health and wellness services for young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers.
It offers integrated mental health care, substance use services, primary and sexual health care, youth and family peer support, and social services.
The provincial government has proclaimed March as Community Social Services Awareness Month in appreciation of the hard work of the more than 42,000 people who work in the community social services sector.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
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