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Â鶹ÊÓƵ is proud to be part of a dynamic system that responds to the ever-evolving mental health needs of students. Through our collaboration with the Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) team, we are able to provide a strong support system for our students to receive the care they need in a timely and easily accessible way.  

What is the ICY program?  

The ICY program was introduced to address the increasing mental health needs of children and youth following the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of British Columbia's "Pathway to Hope" initiative. This program provides essential mental health and substance use support within schools and the community, ensuring that children and youth receive timely, coordinated care without navigating multiple services. In 2023, the qathet region became one of the selected communities to implement this model.  

How does it relate to Â鶹ÊÓƵ students?  

The ICY program brings clinical counselling into the school setting, bridging gaps where school counsellors may not have the capacity for intensive clinical work. By centralizing support, ICY enables school counsellors to refer students directly, with the goal of seeing them within weeks rather than months, helping prevent students from falling through the cracks when their needs aren’t deemed severe enough for traditional mental health services.  

Who is part of the ICY team?  

The ICY team is multidisciplinary, bringing together expertise in clinical counselling, substance use and concurrent disorders, peer support, and family support.   

How are students able to get referred?   

Students are typically referred to ICY through school counsellors or local youth clinics, and they can also connect to services through community mental health providers. ICY counsellors work flexibly with schools, holding sessions on school grounds when needed to ensure accessibility.