Cowichan Valley Youth Gap Analysis: A Collaborative Approach

In 2024, the McCreary report identified that youth in the Cowichan region were experiencing a mental health crisis, with 43% of youth reporting that their mental health is poor or fair. To better understand the state of youth services in the region, CWHC undertook a gap analysis research initiative in collaboration with leading organizations within the sector. The resulting report provides an overview of the sector's state in 2024. It also serves as a road map for the industry to build on its strengths and address the gaps and issues that were identified. The key challenge is to meet the needs of youth today while ensuring that children get the supports they need sooner, to prevent a continuation of the youth mental health crisis.

Project Advisory Committee members:

Adrien Haddock, Youth Services Team Lead, Canadian Mental Health Association – Cowichan Branch

Cher White, Team Lead, Post Majority Team, Kw’umut Lelum

Cindy Lise, Regional Facilitator, Our Cowichan Community Health Network

Douglas Hardie, Program Coordinator, Discovery Youth Services

Jeff Rowan, Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Community Relations, Cowichan Valley School District No. 79

Lise Haddock, ED, Canadian Mental Health Association – Cowichan Branch

Madeline Joe, Community Member

Patricia Seymour, Family physician

Zoe Lauckner, ED, Cowichan Valley Youth Services, and her predecessor, Ryan Naylor, and Wendy Montgomery, who filled in between these two.

CWHC Research Team:

Bev Suderman, Research Lead/Coordinator, and Brenda Reid-Kuecks, Delphine Koyote, Kate Koyote, Sinthu Ratnasami, Sophia Yeh, and Tim Garthside.

Project funders:

1.     Social Planning and Research Council of BC

2.     Our Cowichan Community Health Network