ACCESS Open Minds is celebrating its first anniversary at its permanent location in downtown Chatham. 
The centre has been in operation for about three years, but this is the first year in its current location on King Street West.
Peer navigator Alex Luby says the centre connects teens and young adults with mental health services, including the Canadian Mental Health Association, Children’s Services, Chatham-Kent Police, and local school boards.
“We serve youth ages 11 up to 25, we have different traditional services, counselling groups, social nights, things like that,” Luby explains. “Typically someone comes in and they meet with a peer navigator, we work with the youths to see what their goals are, what their needs are, maybe what their family thinks they need, and then decide what the options are for them in Chatham.”
Since opening, Luby says they’ve served over 1000 teens and young adults.
ACCESS open minds is one of 14 pan-Canadian research project sites, and the only such facility on Ontario.
Luby says they have federally funding through next year. The centre recently selected as an Ontario Youth Wellness Hub with provincial funding, which officials hope will keep it running for the foreseeable future.