Some comforts and services for those in Tumbler Ridge are now being offered out of the local health clinic, allowing regular services to resume at the community centre.
“As the response to the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge transitions from emergency management to sustained support for the community, it was determined that the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre (is) the most appropriate location to locate Northern Health’s specialized mental health services and the B.C. Children Hospital’s mental health clinical team,” said Northern Health in a statement for My Peace Region Now.
Support services are being shifted to the health centre from the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, where an initial response team was set up after the shootings.
Drop-in mental health appointments and primary or urgent care can be accessed every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. These changes will remain in the south Peace community for at least three months.
“The move will allow regular community activities at the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre to resume, bringing some normalcy back to the community,” the health authority explained.
Youth mental health support is also available at the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, and will be provided by psychiatrists and clinicians from the B.C. Children’s Hospital. In addition to these mental health workers from Vancouver, nurses from across the province are working out of the community to provide care.
“Anyone requiring urgent help is asked to go directly to the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre,” said Northern Health in its announcement of the changes.
The extended hours went into effect earlier this week on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
