According to a 2024 Canadian Mental Health Association report, more young adults aged 15 to 24 have a mood, anxiety or substance use disorder than adults. Young adults make up a significant portion of Canadians struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, but there are limited inpatient treatment programs specifically designed for them.
Vancouver Island’s Homewood Ravensview, a comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment facility, has recently launched a new program to help fill that gap. The facility intentionally designed the My Path program for individuals aged 19+ struggling with a range of issues. My Path addresses trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and both substance and behavioural addictions.
“We notice that young adults coming into this program have specific needs related to their current life challenges,” says Homewood Ravensview general manager and vice president Deanna Brady. “Our goal is to provide specific and intentional programming tailored to this demographic.”
Targeted programming
During the inpatient treatment stay, clients participate in an immersive program where they connect with a specialized healthcare team that understands the unique coming-of-age challenges they may be facing. The team has built this program around an open, inclusive and supportive approach to these challenges, which often go beyond mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Treatment is available for process addictions such as gambling, pornography, excessive shopping, gaming and technology use. The program also tackles challenges related to the transition to adulthood, sexuality, identity, self-esteem and social dynamics.
“What we’re seeing with this demographic is those who are really struggling with their identity,” Brady explains. “It’s such a transformative time between the ages of 19 to 25 when trying to figure out, ‘Who am I?’”
A team of experts
My Path is backed by Homewood Health’s 140+ years of clinical experience and excellence. A master’s-level therapist helps individual clients develop emotional coping skills and create strategies to achieve individual goals. The onsite team consists of a psychiatrist, addiction physician, counsellors, a 24/7 nursing staff and occupational, horticultural, recreation, art and music therapists.
My Path offers group therapy, one-on-one counselling and a range of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy and recreational and expressive therapies such as art, music and horticultural therapies.
Homewood Ravensview is located on a 28-acre naturally forested site, and its amenities include a fitness facility with basketball and pickleball courts, an outdoor cultural space, 24/7 nursing stations, community gardens, games rooms and more.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than when we see individuals walking out at the end of their treatment with their head held a little bit higher, knowing that they have learned so much and get to start a new chapter,” says Brady.
To learn more, visit ravensview.com/my-path-program/.
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