Meeting the needs of a child with drug and mental health issues is nearly impossible in the Okanagan, says a local mother.

香蕉视频直播淢y son had a relapse this weekend after being clean from drugs for two-and-a-half months,香蕉视频直播� said Jamie Jones, a mother who first spoke to the Capital News last year about her struggles with her son香蕉视频直播檚 addiction and mental health issues. She香蕉视频直播檚 asked for anonymity to protect her 16-year-old son from being stigmatized as he grows older, so her name has been withheld for this story.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 been wait-listed and wait-listed to get services and nothing is happening,香蕉视频直播� Jones said. 香蕉视频直播淗e has social anxiety so high that he can香蕉视频直播檛 go to school, anymore. Now this. It香蕉视频直播檚 crucial that he get assessed and put on something.香蕉视频直播�

When her son was in the emergency room after ingesting cocaine they learned was laced with fentanyl this weekend, she may have found some help.

香蕉视频直播淭he doctor said, 香蕉视频直播榶ou should have been seen by a psychiatric pediatrician a long time ago,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding that the doctor may have helped make that happen sooner than later by pushing for a referral.

She香蕉视频直播檚 hopeful, but she香蕉视频直播檚 heard a lot of empty promises as a parent trying to navigate the system.

As is, she香蕉视频直播檚 sick of the continual stream of news that kids are overdosing and dying in this community.

香蕉视频直播淐hristy Clark said 香蕉视频直播榩oor mental health is difficult and finding help shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Jones. 香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 agree more.香蕉视频直播�

She just doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see what the government has done to improve conditions.

During a campaign stop in Kelowna Clark lauded the opening of the Foundry, a one stop shop for youth mental health and drug issues.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e really proud to support it,香蕉视频直播� Clark said, adding it香蕉视频直播檚 a model that needs to be implemented across the province.

She explained that when a young person has serious mental health issues, they usually find their way to a hospital and a hospital doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have the resources to divert them to where they need to be.

The Foundry will stop that, she said.

Jones is dubious and said the situation should never have deteriorated to where it is today. From the school system to health care, she香蕉视频直播檚 watched her child be bounced around without ever finding the help he needs and she香蕉视频直播檚 been advocating for him at every stop.

If her son didn香蕉视频直播檛 want that help, and wanted to hide his issues, she said, he would have fallen through the cracks long ago.

Mike Gawliuk, director of service delivery and program innovation at CMHA Kelowna, is the driving force behind the Foundry.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e looking at doing a soft launch to the middle of June with a formal opening in the early in the fall,香蕉视频直播� he said.

With the opening of the Foundry yet to happen, Gawliuk has seen some change for the better.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 been some profile around it,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding the recent fentanyl crisis, as well as a recent series of high profile youth deaths has shone a spotlight on the situation.

香蕉视频直播淚 think within society now, and whether it香蕉视频直播檚 because of crises taking place or other factors, mental health is something people are becoming more comfortable discussing,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淐ompared to five or 10 years ago, people are discussing it and it香蕉视频直播檚 not hidden in the shadows. It香蕉视频直播檚 something we have to act on.香蕉视频直播�

Gawliuk said that his organization is looking forward to establishing Foundry, and they hope it will bridge the gaps that have arisen in dealing with youth.

香蕉视频直播淥ne of the things the Foundry is doing is bringing together all of the organizations and that香蕉视频直播檚 one core aspect about what香蕉视频直播檚 done,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎lso there香蕉视频直播檚 a stepped-care model of service.香蕉视频直播�

Gawliuk explained the stepped-care model by comparing it to his son香蕉视频直播檚 recent gym injury.

香蕉视频直播淢y son hurt his knee on the playground, so he香蕉视频直播檚 going to be assessed,香蕉视频直播� said Gawliuk.

香蕉视频直播淚f he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 need surgery, he won香蕉视频直播檛 get it. He might need rehabilitation, instead.香蕉视频直播�

It香蕉视频直播檚 a simple enough thing to wrap your head around, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not yet how mental health services work.

香蕉视频直播淲hat we want to do is start with the right service at the right time,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播�(Patients) will got to one service, and if that doesn香蕉视频直播檛 resolve their issue, then they will go to the next level of care.香蕉视频直播�

For Jones it香蕉视频直播檚 too late. At the request of her son, she香蕉视频直播檚 leaving the life she built in the Okanagan, putting the house up for sale and moving east.

香蕉视频直播淲hat can I do? He said he needs this, and I have to do this,香蕉视频直播� she said.