Over 1,000 people have rallied behind a petition to prevent the closure of the Carlile Youth Concurrent Disorders Centre, a treatment facility for teenagers in North Vancouver in the Hope Centre at Lions Gate Hospital.
Richmond resident Ruth Kelly started the petition. “The Carlile Centre saves and changes lives and I can personally vouch for that. This unique youth inpatient concurrent disorders centre has been instrumental in treating and supporting teens (ages 13-18) with addictions and mental illnesses, providing hope and support not only for youth but also [for] families. Closing this facility would mean stripping away an essential lifeline for many vulnerable young people across BC,” she says.
Located in the Hope Centre at Lions Gate Hospital, the centre is the only one of its kind in Western Canada. It opened in 2017 and has served as a ‘beacon of hope’ for countless young individuals grappling with co-occurring disorders.
Kelly says its closure in early March 2024 would mean denying these vulnerable individuals access to specialized care they desperately need. It would be an enormous setback not just on individual lives but also on our collective efforts towards addressing mental health and addiction issues among our youth population.”
Kelly’s petition, directed towards Vancouver Coastal Health, and Health Ministers, advocates for continuing the Carlile Centre’s operations while advocating for in-patient beds to accommodate the “Missing Middle” of young adults, aged 18–24.
Squamish resident Kerri Currier says Carlile has been vital in the care and recovery of many students in School District 48, where she works as a counsellor.
“Living in Squamish, we have minimal access to treatment facilities, particularly close to our home community. Carlile’s model integrated care teams that wrapped around students as they re-integrated back into their communities and schools. While Maples still exist, there is a 9-12 month wait for youth admission, which is inexcusable. The physical and mental health support for youth is sorely underfunded, and the Minister of Health needs to prioritize Carlile if they are truly invested in addressing substance use/mental health needs in our province,” she said.
Ruth Quirk from Richmond said she works with youth in Richmond and has seen the need for this type of facility. It’s helped many of our students and can change the direction of a young life.”
One of the most needed services on the North Shore