New hub for mental health and addictions services to open in Colwood late summer
A new hub for mental-health and addiction services is under construction in Colwood and set to open by summer’s end.
A request for proposals, design and planning began in late 2023, and construction of the 7,000-square-foot pre-fab building at 681 Allandale Rd. in Colwood began early this year.
The total cost is about
$4.9 million for construction improvements to the location.
The hub is designed to meet a range of mental-health and addiction needs and to offer immediate same-day walk-in or call-in counselling and assessments, five days a week, Island Health said.
For those requiring ongoing support, the hub has a care coordinator to guide them through the appropriate services.
Mary Morrison, Island Health operations manager for mental-health and substanceuse services in the south Island, said the site will be an access point for people on the West Shore seeking connection with mental-health and substance-use resources.
“We’re offering residents the chance to be heard and seen quickly when they need it,” said Morrison, who offered a tour of the facility to politicians and stakeholders on Friday afternoon.
She said the goal is immediate access as well as integrated care from Monday to Friday with a potential to expand once it’s up and running “towards the end of this summer.”
Individuals accessing sameday service will be connected to additional supports and services based on their stated goals and the clinically assessed level of need, she said, adding it’s about trying to get the right service “to the right person in a quick way.”
The hub team includes experts in psychiatry, addiction medicine, nursing, counselling, occupational therapy and peer support. It will build on services already offered at other locations.
The clinical space in Colwood includes four consultation rooms, seven clinical counselling spaces, one medical exam treatment room, a medication room, two physician offices, a large meeting room and one additional gathering space for special events and other activities.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside said that with the hub, “we are bringing together mental-health and addiction services, and supporting individuals and families right where they live.”