VAUGHAN – Today, Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan, announced that the Ontario government is making it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use services by launching a net-new Youth Wellness Hub to serve youth in the City of Vaughan and surrounding areas. Located at the intersection of Jane Street and Rutherford Road in Maple, this is one of 10 new hubs the government is adding to the network of 22 hubs that will offer integrated mental health services to all youth at no cost.
"When it comes to supporting the mental health of our children, nothing matters more," said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan. "As your Member of Provincial Parliament, I made a promise to deliver better healthcare closer to home. That is why we opened the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital ahead of schedule and announced a new long-term care home and medical school beside the hospital. To build on our progress, I am proud to deliver a Youth Wellness Hub in Vaughan that will serve as a space where youth can access life-changing support in the heart of our community. This landmark hub will provide wrap-around support for our kids, making it easier on parents, so that their children access diverse clinical supports and resources in one-space, to get on a path to lasting recovery."
Beginning summer 2025, the new hub will connect youth aged 12 to 25 in Vaughan to convenient and free mental health, substance use and primary care services in a safe, youth-friendly space.
"Our government remains committed to enhancing mental health and addiction services in communities throughout Ontario, offering support to individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges," said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "By expanding the Youth Wellness Hubs across the province, we are ensuring that young people in Vaughan have access to the mental health and addiction care they need, all in one easily accessible location, closer to home."
Other services provided through the hub will also include supports for newcomers and access to community and social supports and employment services.
With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government has significantly expanded the number of Youth Wellness Hubs across the province to make it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use support, primary care, social services and more.
QUOTES
"Through the ongoing expansion of our Youth Wellness Hub network, our government is making sure that youth across the province can easily access top-tier mental health and addiction support whenever and wherever they need it. The new Youth Wellness Hub in Vaughan will provide a safe space for young people to feel supported and connected to a community, offering them the resources and tools to navigate life's challenges."
- Michael Tibollo,
MPP for Vaughan—Woodbridge and Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
“Our government is dedicated to ensuring that young people in Ontario have the support they need to overcome mental health and substance use challenges. The new Youth Wellness Hub in Vaughan will be a vital resource for local youth, providing a range of services in one convenient location. This initiative is an important step toward making mental health care more accessible, personalized, and closer to home for our youth.”
- Laura Smith,
MPP for Thornhill
“Mental health affects people of every age. In fact, one in two people are not getting the help they need and one in eight have experienced high levels of anxiety. I want to express my gratitude to Premier Doug Ford and to Vaughan’s members of provincial parliament for their continued investment in our city with the opening of this new Youth Wellness Hub. By providing free mental health services for youth aged 12 to 25 years old, we can help ensure young people in Vaughan receive the support and resources they need to succeed and feel safe.”
- Steven Del Duca,
Mayor, City of Vaughan
“The establishment of this hub is a testament to our community’s commitment to prioritizing youth well being. By offering accessible and integrated services, we are not only helping young people navigate life’s challenges but fostering a stronger, healthier community as a whole.”
- Nina Singh
YWHO Hub Manager, Youth and Wellness Hubs Ontario
“York Hills Centre for Children, Youth, and Families is proud to announce York Region’s first-ever Youth Wellness Hub, in partnership with 360°kids, ASCO, CMHA, the Ontario government, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, and CAMH. Special thanks to Ministers Lecce, Tibollo, and Jones for supporting this vital initiative. Set to open in summer 2025 at 9401 Jane Street, the hub will provide youth aged 12 to 25 with free, user-friendly access to mental health and substance abuse services, including counselling, peer support, job readiness programs, and more. Located near Vaughan Mills and Canada’s Wonderland, the hub will be part of the expanded YWHO network, adding 10 new hubs across Ontario, for a total of 32.”
- Dean Rokos,
Chief Executive Officer, Youth and Wellness Hubs Ontario
QUICK FACTS
York Hills Centre for Children, Youth and Families is leading the co-design of the Vaughan Youth Wellness Hub with local community partners, ensuring diverse youth voices are at the centre of the design of the hub model.
Between 2020 and 2023, Ontario established a provincial network of 22 Youth Wellness Hubs that have connected nearly 60,000 youth and their families to mental health, substance use, and wellness services, accounting for almost 320,000 visits.
Reflecting on this success, Ontario is adding 10 more hubs to the Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario program: five new hubs will be located in Port Hope, Thunder Bay, Oxford County, Vaughan and Brampton, with another five hubs to be funded through Budget 2024 with an investment of $8.3 million over three years, with locations to be announced.
The 22 Youth Wellness Hubs currently operating across the province are serving over 31 communities: Algoma, Central Toronto, Chatham Kent, Eastern Champlain (Cornwall & SDG and Rockland & Prescott Russell), Haliburton County, Kenora, KFLA Region, London-Middlesex, Malton (includes Peel Region and Mississauga), Niagara Region, North Simcoe, Renfrew County, Sagamok Anishnawbek, Sarnia-Lambton, Scarborough, Sudbury, Thorncliffe Park, Timmins, Toronto East, Wellington-Guelph, West Toronto and Windsor-Essex.
Ontario is investing $3.8 billion over 10 years to fill gaps in mental health and addictions care, create new services and expand programs through Roadmap to Wellness. · As part of Budget 2024, Building a Better Ontario, the government is building on its work through the Roadmap by investing an additional $396 million over three years to improve access and expand existing mental health and addictions services and programs.
Comments