Youth Mental Health Fund: Climate, nature and economy lens public statement
On this page
- Purpose
- Environmental analysis
- Strategic economic analysis
- Cross-cutting considerations
- Public perspective
Purpose
In line with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA), a strategic environmental and economic analysis was conducted on the proposal to create a new Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF). The YMHF provides funding to community-based organizations that help improve access to mental health services and supports for youth. This funding will support youth in getting the mental health care they need, and better equip these organizations to connect them to mental health services within their networks and partnerships.
The YMHF is a cross-departmental initiative that includes funding to Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
Environmental analysis
The environmental analysis did not result in findings of any significant environmental effects. As such, no strategic environmental analysis was done.
Strategic economic analysis
A strategic economic analysis was conducted and found no local or national impacts, with low short term sectoral economic impacts and no long-term impacts.
Cross-cutting considerations
Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
The proposal supports Goal 3 of the 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to support mental health and adopt healthy behaviours.
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous youth were identified as underserved populations who face barriers to accessing community-based mental health and wellness services and supports. Indigenous organizations are eligible for funding through the YMHF to support First Nations youth on- and off-reserve, Inuit youth within and outside Inuit Nunangat, and Métis youth.
Public perspective
Between May and July 2024, Health Canada conducted comprehensive consultations to inform implementation of the YMHF, including roundtables, bilateral discussions with provinces and territories and Indigenous partners and an online survey with over 3500 responses.