New centre will improve the mental wellness of youth

Calgary’s new Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health is being constructed thanks to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and broad community support. Once built, the new facility will provide community-based mental health services to help children and youth improve their mental wellness while pursuing long-term recovery.

Alberta’s government is funding the operations of the centre in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS). Through the Build Them Up fundraising campaign, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation raised more than $50 million to support the $39-million capital build in addition to ongoing program funding.

“Improving youth mental wellness is a top priority for Alberta’s government. The Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Calgary will help countless youth improve their mental wellness while pursuing long-term recovery in the years to come. Thank you to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation for making this project a reality in partnership with Alberta Health Services and the local community.”

“The new Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health in Calgary will be an invaluable resource to the children and youth of Calgary. Having an easily accessible walk-in service close to home will make it easier for youth and families to improve their mental wellness and pursue recovery.”

The new three-storey, 35,000 square foot centre will be home to a mental health walk-in service, an intensive outpatient therapy program and a day hospital program.

Construction of the centre is ongoing and is expected to be complete in late summer 2022. Once open, services will augment and integrate with existing services provided by AHS and community-based agencies.

“We are so grateful to our generous community for funding the creation of this innovative centre. Now more than ever, we need to support new resources, programs and research that will change the future of mental health and wellness for young people and their families.”

“Childhood and adolescence are critical developmental periods. Our goal for the Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health is to make sure kids and their families have readily available, timely access to services – so more Albertans can have bright, healthy futures.”

These new and enhanced community-based services will provide children, youth and their families with care designed to improve mental wellness, prevent hospitalization and support the pursuit of long-term recovery. This will help address the increased need for youth mental health services in the Calgary region and further reduce pressure on the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Albertans can visit Together4Health, AHS’ online engagement platform, for progress updates and information on feedback opportunities. AHS is committed to gathering input from patients and families, staff and the community.

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is helping everyday Albertans access life-saving prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources. Specifically Alberta’s government has: invested $140 million over four years supporting the addition of new publicly funded treatment spaces; eliminated daily user fees for publicly funded residential addiction treatment; launched a new patient matching tool Recovery Access Alberta; and introduced services to reduce harm, such as the Digital Overdose Response system (DORS), the introduction of nasal naloxone kits and the expansion of opioid agonist therapy.

Quick facts

• The new Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health is being built at 1005 17a Street NW, in the community of Hounsfield Heights - Briar Hill in Calgary. It is being constructed on existing AHS land where Youth Addiction Services has been operating for more than 30 years.
• Through the Build Them Up fundraising campaign, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation raised more than $50 million to support the capital build as well as program and research enhancements.
• The new centre will provide a comprehensive continuum of coordinated, integrated and seamless intervention services for children and youth suffering from acute mental health disorders, and their families.
• Contact 811 Health Link, Alberta 211 or Access Mental Health | Alberta Health Services for information about in-person addiction and mental health services and supports for youth in your area. 
• Young Albertans can access supports directly by contacting:
  • Kids Help Phone offers confidential conversations with a professional counsellor 24-7. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. 
  • Kickstand’s MoreGoodDays provides free, daily text messages for youth focused on positive mental health. To subscribe, text MoreGoodDays to 393939.
  • Jack.org’s Alberta COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub is an online resource that offers education, tools, support and reliable information. 
  • Youth Mental Health Hubs connect Albertans aged 11 to 24 to community mental health support and wellness resources.
• Learn more about virtual and telephone addiction and mental health supports for youth by visiting alberta.ca/childrens-mental-health.