Interior Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use Team will be making a stop in Likely tomorrow morning (May 17).
They’ll be joined by members from Foundry Cariboo Chilcotin, the Child Development Centre, Moms Stop the Harm, and Cariboo Friendship Society, to provide information to the community on a wide range of topics.
“It’s an event that we’re calling Live Laugh Likely,” Jenny Lindstrom, Integrated Community Care Team Lead for Substance Use Youth Programs said, “a great opportunity to listen to the issues and concerns of the community and provide them with information about pregnancy care, mental health, the toxic drug supply and many other things.”
Lindstrom said what IH is seeing across the board in BC is the toxic drug supply is seeping into more rural and remote communities and having really devastating impacts.
“It’s really important for us to develop this presence, this mental health and substance use connection in communities similar to Likely that are more rural. We want the people of these smaller areas to feel connected and understand and know how to access resources that are available. And we really want to focus on removing any barriers that stand in the way to accessing them.”
Lindstrom said this is kind of their first time going out into Likely and are hoping that there will be more future opportunities to visit other smaller communities in the Cariboo.
“It really just depends on how folks feel about it.” Lindstrom noted, “We did do a bunch of peer work in the Fall with the youth at the high schools and they really want more mobile services so this event is kind of a big response to that.”
The “Live Laugh Likely” event will also include a Chamber of Commerce barbecue, fun games to win prizes, even a coloring contest for the younger kids that come out.
“Our Community Care Team looks after 12 to 24 year old’s which encompasses that little bit of that younger adult,” Lindstrom said, “but doing events like this really offers all ages to have access to all kinds of programming. We really want to attract the youth for our programs but then adults of course are welcome join us and also the younger kids because they are upcoming youth.”
This event will be held this Friday from 10 am to 3 pm outside the General Store on the main Street and everyone is welcome.
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