West Shore residents will soon have improved access to mental health and substance use support with the opening of the new West Shore Mental Health and Substance Use Hub in Colwood.

Starting on Sept. 4, the Allendale Road hub will be open five days a week offering community-based care, same-day walk-in or call-in counselling and assessments, care planning, integrated services, and referrals to higher levels of care when needed.

"Today marks a significant step to step forward in mental health and substance use care for the West Shore community," said Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair. "As our population grows, so does the need for accessible comprehensive care close to home. The New West Shore Mental Health and Substance Use Hub addresses this crucial need."

Tracy Taylor, the peer support team lead who also has lived experience of mental illness, told reporters that a space like this "pretty much saved my life."

"I woke up that day and I said I needed help and they opened their doors, they allowed me in and they offered me help in the moment that I needed it most," she said. "They gave me peer support, they gave me groups, one of the things they gave me that was really amazing outside of the paid staff was peers, people like me that were actually on their wellness journey, and well into it."

The hub aims to serve people with moderate to less severe conditions, including depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions as well as addictions. It includes a team of 25 professionals from various fields such as psychiatry, addictions medicine, nursing, counselling, occupational therapy and peer support.