St. Clair Child and Youth Services is seeking feedback about mental health supports in Lambton County in order to make improvements.
An online survey will be available throughout the month of November. The survey is specific to youth between the ages of 12 and 18 and for parents or caregivers of children and youth.
Interim Executive Director Craig McKenzie said the number one concern they've heard, is that it's important to have access to services when they're needed.
"Our goal here is to be as transparent as possible, kind of acknowledging that there probably are leaks and gaps in our mental health services," he said. "We really want to engage the public and hear their thoughts, their concerns, [and] their experiences to help us build a better system."
McKenzie said they have noticed over the past few years that the needs of individuals are more complex.
"We're still trying to understand the trends that are happening, particularly since the pandemic.," he said. "We know that lots of families are struggling to make ends meet and have other pressures that are impacting - not just the lives of children and youth but the entire family."
Feedback gathered through the survey will be used in the 2024-2025 Service Area Plan, to help ensure services are easy to find.
McKenzie said they're aiming to release results to the public early on in the new year.
"We'll be engaging many of our community partners to build a better system locally. Together, I think we can identify innovative solutions to address some of the challenges we're going to be hearing," McKenzie said. "At the end of the day, our aim is to be more responsive, inclusive, and build a more effective mental health system for kids and families in Lambton County."
As stated on the survey, it will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Those who complete the survey will be able to fill out a ballot in order to be entered into a draw to win a $100 Lambton Mall gift card.
