Students in Simcoe Muskoka will be able to get an education while dealing with mental health issues.
A new youth mental health day program officially opened at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie on Wednesday.
The program is a partnership between RVH and the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) to provide academic and mental health services for students in Grades 9 to 12 who are unable to attend regular classes due to anxiety or depression.
It will begin this Friday with four students with another six expected to be enrolled in the program by the end of September.
The hospital's Chief of Psychiatry Dr. Eric Mulder says this program is an extension to the inpatient care unit that opened at the hospital last year.
He says this program will offer additional care that will allow students to make the transition back to their schools.
Dr. Mulder says students who have to deal with mental health issues often fall behind in school.
He says the problems are often compounded and will have a lasting impact.
SCDSB's Superintendent of Programs and Special Education Chris Samis says there have been similar programs in other local health integration networks but not here in North Simcoe.
He says by having a program established in the North Simcoe LHIN, youth here don't have to travel to other places to get treatment.
Samis says youth can't be successful if they are not well.
He says 1 in 5 students are struggling with mental health issues and that could be thousands of students.
