Work continues as the Atlantic Wellness Centre prepares to move into its new King Street home in September.

Executive Director Andrew Leblanc says there’s a growing need for more mental health support for youth.

He adds it’s important they are checking in on a regular basis, “Just make sure you’re doing okay and make sure you learn some of the coping strategies on how you can deal with some of the various experiences you’re going through in life, especially during the formative years for young people, it’s great for them to learn some of those coping strategies.”

The Centre offers free support services for youth.

Leblanc says the new location will have more staff and interns, which will allow them to offer more services and serve even more youth, “The phone lines open on Monday mornings. The best way to get in is to call. We’ll set you up with an appointment with a therapist and then you can continue to access the clinic or you can ask to be assigned a therapist long-term or access some of the other services.”

The first Atlantic Wellness Centre opened in 2012 in Riverview, but as it continues to expand, there was a need for a new home.

Leblanc says there is a massive demand for mental health services right now, and they are working to avoid a crisis situation. He feels that’s why an organization like theirs is so important right now.

“It’s one of those things, in the non-profit sector you almost want to be able to work yourself out of a job because you don’t want to have these mental health situations and mental health crises, but we are thrilled to be able to provide the support youth need and to be able to give them the skills they need to cope and to do it for free,” Leblanc adds.

RELATED:    New home on King Street for Atlantic Wellness Centre