A permanent walk-in wellness clinic is staying open on the UBC Okanagan campus.
After its five-week trial, the demand for the no-barrier mental health centre was large enough from students and the community that the doors are to remain open.
91裸聊视频淭his is a game changer,91裸聊视频� said Lesley Lutes, associate professor and director of clinical training for the PhD program in clinical psychology at UBC Okanagan.
91裸聊视频淭his is a space where community members can drop in for free mental health services without an appointment or referral. It91裸聊视频檚 changing the way people are accessing care for their mental health.91裸聊视频�
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This is the first public walk-in mental health clinic on a university campus in B.C. The clinic has a two-fold purpose: provide support to community members in distress and train students in the future of health care delivery.
Lutes91裸聊视频� team accommodated more than 50 drop-ins in the five-week unfunded program last fall, helping patients who were experiencing various issues including stress, depression, anxiety, serious mental illness and suicide risk.
91裸聊视频淭his clinic is for the community. People begin to experience symptoms and don91裸聊视频檛 know where to go because there is no primary care for mental health,91裸聊视频� said Lutes.
91裸聊视频淭hey often don91裸聊视频檛 seek help until they91裸聊视频檙e in crisis, and end up in an emergency room where they91裸聊视频檙e more likely to get medication only, rather than treatments involving therapy.91裸聊视频�
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In the past decade, emergency room admissions related to mental health have increased 300 per cent, and in 60 per cent of primary care visits, patients report a mental issue. UBC Okanagan91裸聊视频檚 walk-in-wellness clinic is the first step in Lutes91裸聊视频� ultimate goal of introducing psychologists into primary care.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e here to help. We created this clinic because we know that life is stressful for everyone at times. We want people to know that there is an excellent evidence-based resource available to them free of charge,91裸聊视频� said Lutes.
91裸聊视频淚f you haven91裸聊视频檛 struggled with anxiety, depression, loss, divorce, substance use or binge eating, odds are someone you care about has. Life is life and it affects us both physically and emotionally91裸聊视频攁nd Okanagan residents deserve health care that treats their whole self.91裸聊视频�
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The walk-in clinic is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. located at the Inter-professional Clinic on UBC Okanagan.
More information can be found at .
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