The Bradford Lions Club’s third annual Walk for MOBYSS, the Mobile York South Simcoe youth clinic, drew a record number of walkers of all ages on the weekend, and organizer Roddie Saunders said he could not have been happier.
This year, the day was summery and warm, and dozens of walkers of all ages came out — some accompanied by their dogs.
MOBYSS is an initiative of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), bringing health services — physical as well as mental — directly to young people between the ages of 12 and 25.
The brightly-painted bus travels a regular route throughout South Simcoe and York Region, stopping at malls, skate parks and high schools, providing professional and confidential services free of charge.
No appointments are needed, although clients can book a time online to meet with the nurse practitioner, youth counsellor and peer support specialist who staff MOBYSS.
The mobile clinic has been visited by approximately 6,000 youth in the past three years, offering a lifeline for young people struggling with health issues.
“This is something I wish we had when I was younger,” said Saunders.
According to the CMHA, one in five Canadians will experience a mental-health issue. The stats also show that suicide accounts for 24 per cent of all deaths in the 15-24 age range, and 16 per cent of deaths among those ages 25-44. Yet in Canada, only one in five children who need mental-health services receive them.
