Integrated Service Delivery teams providing addiction and mental health support for children and youth in rural areas

Children and youth in rural schools are able to access addictions and mental health support and resources to help them succeed thanks to multidisciplinary teams across the province.

Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) teams, made up of psychology, social work, health care and education professionals, work together to provide children and youth struggling with addictions and mental health concerns support and information on resources available to them. The multidisciplinary teams work within New Brunswick schools and community settings for children and youth.

Chantal DesRoches, an addictions and mental health social worker, is part of a team that cares for children and youth in the Salisbury, Petitcodiac and Hillsborough areas. She collaborates with team members from other disciplines to provide support.

“My role is to provide support to youth who want help with their addictions and mental health struggles,” said Chantal. “The goal is to be someone youth feel comfortable talking to about their concerns or struggles and provide a safe place to do so.”

The program provides youth with various types of therapy, including one-on-one and group sessions, as well as support for parents and guardians. ISD team members also work with local community groups, government departments, health authorities and provincial programs to provide youth and their families with resources and connect them with programs to help overcome their struggles.

“Part of my job is to provide education on the effects of drugs and the risk of addiction to students in our schools,” said Chantal. “I attend a variety of meetings at the school level to provide a mental health and addiction lens for struggling students and community advisory meetings in our rural communities to collaborate and advocate for the youths in these communities.”

Chantal has been in her current role for six years, and for her, the special moments are watching the youth she works with succeed.

“The best part about my job is the success stories like turning their life around at such a young age,” said Chantal. “High school graduations are always special to me. When you see your clients achieve a goal that they’ve worked so hard to accomplish, it really means a lot.”

To learn more about ISD services and how you or someone you know can get help, click here.

This is the first part of a series of profiles on different ISD roles and team members. Keep an eye out as we highlight more Horizon staff and the key roles they play in expanding addiction and mental health care in the province.