June 30, 2023
RED DEER — Five central Alberta emergency departments are now better equipped to support youth experiencing crisis with the addition of a new Alberta Health Services (AHS) Addiction and Mental Health team.
The Child and Adolescent Stabilization Team (CAST) ensures youth and their families in crisis have ongoing mental health services within 48 hours of leaving an emergency department.
“For young people, it is important that we as a government are providing the resources and connections they need to get help where and when they need it,” says Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction. “This new team will be an important way to get youth and their families onto the path of mental wellness.”
Available at emergency departments in Red Deer, Ponoka, Wetaskiwin, Rimbey and Lacombe, CAST ensures patients and their families return home after leaving the emergency department with connections to appropriate community services.
“Youth experiencing crisis need to know they are supported,” says Amy Klimosko, a director with Addiction and Mental Health in AHS Central Zone. “We want patients and families to know they are not alone. We are here to walk with them through their recovery journey and ensure they are connected to the right services.”
CAST is available Monday to Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and on weekends and statutory holidays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Clients can also call Access Addiction & Mental Health at 1-888-594-0211 for non-urgent addiction and mental health information and services in AHS Central Zone.
For 24/7 emergency mental health support, Albertans can call the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642, call 911, or visit the nearest emergency department.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
