A new youth drop-in centre is set to open in Martensville in April.

The Martensville Youth Connection (MYC) is the brain youth of several visionaries who are collaborating to provide supports for youth in the region.

One of those visionaries is Katharine Carter, who has a background in social work. “We’ve been working on this drop-in project for two years and we’re super excited. It’s amazing – the parent support is there, and we’re blessed that the community is coming on board,” she said.

The MYC concept evolved naturally out of some challenges Carter identified. When she worked as a counselor for the Prairie Spirit School Division, she often had to refer students needing additional support to Saskatoon. But it wasn’t convenient for parents who worked in Saskatoon until 5 p.m. to access city services that typically close at 5 p.m. Carter soon saw the value of keeping things local and opened her own counseling office.

However, there were additional barriers to accessing mental health supports. “There was a huge gap of everyone needing support and not many people being able to afford it,” Carter said. That was especially true for those without an insurance provider. “So, we started to run a youth drop-in centre on Wednesdays, and we did it for 12 weeks. It was all based on volunteers. We had all registered social workers, we had a lawyer, and we had someone with lived experience tell their story. We all came together and had a huge success. Over those 12 weeks we had 30 different participants access the program 150 different times,” Carter said.   

The participants wanted the program to continue, so Carter brought on additional help for her counselling agency so she would be free to rally public support for a community-based program. Part of that process led to a partnership with Possibilities Recovery Centre, a Saskatoon agency that provides addiction and mental wellness services.

“Possibilities Recovery Center (PRC) is really excited to partner with Carter’s Counselling in developing the Martensville Youth Connection, said board chair, Tanner Perratt. “After hearing Katharine’s vision for a youth centre and feeling the passion she has to do this work, we wanted to be a part of bringing it fruition.”

Carter sent letters to area organizations and businesses, a number of whom have already pledged support. One of those is Forged Fitness, which has provided space at a discounted rate. Programming will continue on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Clearcut Coffeehouse until April 8. After that, the drop-in centre will relocate to Forged Fitness in Martensville and run Monday to Friday from 3 pm – 9 pm.

From 3 – 6 p.m. youth can drop into the new location to hang out, play games, grab a healthy snack, read, do homework, or work out at the gym next door. There was mention of Friday fun nights involving pizza and games like Family Feud, Jeopardy or board games. Programming will run from 6 – 8:30 p.m. and feature education, discussion and role play on topics like healthy self-image, self-harm, suicide intervention and triggers.

The Martensville Youth Connection is set to open in April

PRC has been developing an Intensive Outpatient Youth Mental Wellness program over the past six months. “It’s been designed off our successful adult treatment model, to help youth aged 14-20 overcome mental health or problematic substance use challenges,” Perratt said. The program has been running out of PRC’s Saskatoon facility since February 2022. Any donations to MYC are handled through PRC.

Organizers want the drop-in model to be sustainable over the long term. “We want to be able to offer free service where youth can come and get support, and they’re actually learning skills to carry them through life, like how do you cope with depression, how do you deal with an addiction to technology, how do you build a resume, how do you create a job application online,” Carter said.

That sustainability could be further enhanced by expanding the vision somewhat when youth aren’t using the space. Carter suggests a mental health-based moms and tots’ program could meet a need. Having the Saskatchewan Health Authority onsite once-a-week to provide essential health support would also be welcomed.

Martensville may not be the inner city, and there may be a perception it doesn’t have problems. But Carter says families are struggling. “There are a lot of dynamics that people don’t talk about.” The day to day lives of busy professionals may conceal struggles with divorce, finances, depression and anxiety. “We all struggle. Life is difficult,” Carter said.

To date, youth from Dalmeny, Warman, Martensville, Hepburn and Waldheim have accessed the drop-in program. Stay tuned for news about a grand opening in May.