The Beauharnois-based mental health support organization, Le Dahlia, launched its new Zone 18-25 centre in partnership with Ancre et Ailes in Ormstown on September 17.
The new satellite centre, which is located at 10 Bridge Street, will include scheduled activities, workshops, and discussions, as well as drop-in hours where individuals between the ages of 18-25 will be able to find support.
People in this age group can sometimes feel a bit lost, says Julie-Pier Ratté, a support worker with Le Dahlia. “On the one hand, they are moving from children’s services to services for adults. They don’t really know where to turn, or who to go to for help or guidance,” she explains.
The Zone 18-25 program is aimed at helping this younger age group to speak up if they are experiencing mental health problems, or if they are having difficulty adjusting to challenges or personal troubles. Le Dahlia works in collaboration with Aire Ouverte, which is supported by the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO).
Ratté says the partnerships with Aire Ouverte and Ancre et Ailes have been very productive. She suggests mental health services are especially important outside of urban environments. “Rural areas often mean people who work a lot, and who are a little more isolated. Services can sometimes be a little harder to find,” she says, noting the fact their services and activities are all free means people can feel less abandoned.
As of September 17, the new service is open in Ormstown on Tuesdays to Wednesdays for the remainder of the month. In October, the centre will be open on Monday afternoons as well, but only by appointment.
More information about Le Dahlia de Beauharnois and their new Zone 18-25 services being offered at Ancre et Ailes in Ormstown can be found on their Facebook page.