A Community Need

With 1 in 4 young people in Canada aged 15 to 24 experiencing challenges with mental health or substance misuse in any given year, 50% of youth coming to Foundry reporting that they have thought about suicide in the past 90 days, and less than 25% of youth report receiving the mental health services they need, it is crucial to have centres like Foundry. Despite 70% of mental illness happening before the age of 24, and despite overdoses being the number one killer of young people in BC aged 10-19, our health system is crisis driven, unresponsive, and uncoordinated. Mental illness and problematic substance use strike early. Our communities are not armed with coordinated, accessible or low-barrier services. For a strong future, we need vibrant and healthy young people living full, productive lives. 

The impact Foundry has had on the communities it works within is incredibly telling through reports from youth served. After accessing Foundry services, 96% of young people said they were satisfied with Foundry and its services, with 95% agreeing that having services in one place at Foundry made it easier for them to get help. Foundry is already building a strong foundation for the future; to help it continue to flourish, Foundry must grow to reach communities just like Burnaby.

Statistics source: Foundry Case for Support, 2023