Sechelt Youth Health Clinic expects busy fall
In an effort to provide Sechelt youth with health care they might not otherwise receive, VCH-Coastal launched the Sechelt Youth Health Clinic in May for a six-month pilot project.
The clinic, which provides confidential health care for youth up to the age of 19, is an addition to the current Sunshine Coast Youth Health Clinic services currently offered at the Gibson’s Health Unit and Pender Harbour Health Centre
The Sechelt walk-in clinic – open every Wednesday from 3 pm to 5 pm – was quiet over the summer, though a steady flow of new youth each week kept spirits high. Youth clinic staff is expecting a busy fall now that school has started and staff plan to reach out to local schools, Chatelech secondary and Phoenix alternative, to let students know this service is available to them.
“We see youth for any of their health concerns or questions,” explains Annaliese Hasler, Family Nurse Practitioner. “In addition to offering sexual health services – including free or low cost birth control, STI testing and pregnancy counseling – we are broadening our reach to include mental health, addictions and harm reduction, and post-sexual assault support. We want to make sure youth have someone to talk to if they are feeling overwhelmed, or simply have general health concerns like healthy nutrition, exercise or acne. We know there are youth being missed out there.”
Annaliese is right. Some students are being missed.
Nine per cent of youth not getting care they need
According to the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey, the percentage of students on the Sunshine Coast who did not get medical care when they felt they needed it was similar to the provincial rate at nine per cent. Furthermore, The Survey identifies that the most common reason for missing out on care was thinking or hoping the problem would go away. Other common reasons included being too busy to go, and not wanting their parents to know.
“Nine per cent represents the youth who identify with having a problem, but our youth health clinics goes beyond that and offer health promoting services,” Annaliese says. “We know that early education, identification, diagnosis and treatment are all key components to enduring health and wellness”.
“Many of the youth we see aren’t comfortable opening up to their parents or their family physicians and that’s why we are here,” says Annaliese. “We want youth to know they can come to the clinic without an appointment and talk about anything that they are questioning, or is bothering them. They will receive one-on-one confidential care.”
“We are one of many arms that wrap around the youth in this community.”