Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Initiative - Funded projects

Advancing African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) Perinatal Mental Healthcare: Assessment, Advocacy and Action   

Lead/Recipient: CO-CREATH Lab, University of Ottawa 

Location: National Capital Region, Ontario and Quebec

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The goal of this study is to strengthen perinatal mental health services for Black birthing people by developing culturally informed, evidenced based resources that translate into responsive community mental health programs and public policy. The project will generate Canadian race-based data on perinatal mental health by engaging ACB communities and multiple stakeholders­, including:

• Black birthing people
• counselling professionals
• perinatal educators
• doulas
• midwives
• policy makers

This data will help increase awareness of the structural determinants impacting Black birthing people’s mental health and their access to mental healthcare. Stakeholder insights will guide the development of education modules and online webinars, which will be shared with community health clinics, fertility centres and faith-based organizations to increase their local capacity and improve the delivery of culturally-responsive perinatal mental health supports for the target population.

At the Heart of Change: Supporting the Mental Health of Black Women Facing Professional Challenges

Lead/Recipient: Bien Être Noir

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

Start date: April 2025

Duration: 11 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: This project aims to support the mental health of Black women in strategic positions or engaged in entrepreneurship by responding concretely to the professional challenges they face. It is based on a participatory approach, strategic collaborations, and practical tools. The main activities of the project include:

• setting up a working committee and recruiting the project team
• establishing partnerships with key players in the fields of mental health, employment equity, and entrepreneurship
• recruiting Black women executives, professionals, or entrepreneurs who wish to participate in the project
• organizing collaborative workshops and discussion spaces to identify needs, co-develop tailored solutions, and strengthen skills in:
  • stress management
  • self-confidence
  • resilience in the face of discrimination
  • achieving psychological balance at work

At the end of the project, 2 concrete tools will be produced:

• a guide with guidelines for creating strategic or entrepreneurial readiness programs for Black women
• a practical guide for employers wishing to integrate psychosocial risk assessment into their management practices

Black Food Insecurity  

Lead/Recipient: bXposed - Diversity in Sports 

Location: Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Ontario 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $22,700

In brief: The project is focused on food insecurity in Black communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and developing resources to find culturally appropriate food and food banks. The project will identify and compile local food banks, community kitchens, and food literacy programs available in Brampton and surrounding areas that specifically cater to the needs of Black families with the help of key partners. That list will be distributed in various formats and languages to at least 50 Black families in Brampton. The project will also prepare and distribute container gardening kits (with containers, soil, seeds, and other necessary tools) to participants based on interest. Finally, the project will provide support and guidance to participants through workshops and ongoing communications and sustain this support by creating a community forum or support group to connect participants and share progress.

Black Youth Empowerment and Social Inclusion for Mental Well-being (“B YES” Program) 

Lead/Recipient: Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC (ACPNet) 

Location: Vancouver, Surrey, West Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Delta, and White Rock, British Columbia

Start date: March 2025

Duration:13 months

Funding amount: $99,984

In brief: The project aims to identify gaps and increase understanding of the unique barriers to mental health resources through an environmental scan, needs assessment, and literature review. It will build capacity through peer mentorship and skills development by:

• training 5 peer mentors
• providing 5 skills-building workshops for Black youth on topics like:
  • computer literacy
  • English language learning
  • soft skills
  • strategic job searching
  • resume writing

The project will also organize 3 storytelling activities, 3 conversation circles, and 3 drama workshops to create safe spaces for Black youth to share experiences, increase mental health awareness and build community connections. These activities will promote a sense of belonging by helping Black youth to feel part of the community that supports their unique identities.

The Brotherhood Connect Mental Health Program  

Lead/Recipient: Ruth's House Society 

Location: Calgary, Alberta 

Start Date: March 2025

Duration:13 months

Funding amount: $80,000

In brief: This project focuses on the mental health challenges faced by Black men, particularly those affected by domestic violence, in the context of key social determinants of health. This project will offer culturally relevant mental health resources, support, and education through workshops and discussions. Sessions guided by community leaders and mental health professionals will focus on:

• trauma
• mental health
• domestic violence

Youth Momentum: Rise and Shine

Lead/Recipient: Wazazi  

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The project aims to strengthen the mental health of Black youth in Canada, particularly those facing trauma related to systemic racism and social and economic challenges. Project activities include:

• interactive workshops on mental health and psychological well-being for young Black students
• collective healing circles in schools, community centers, and cultural spaces
• intergenerational mentoring sessions, where young people will be paired with Black mentors trained to support their resilience in the face of academic and social challenges
• parenting workshops focused on family and community support
• the creation of intergenerational support networks
• the formation of a core group of Black community leaders, mentors, and teachers to act as mental health ambassadors
• the development of bilingual (French and English) educational resources on mental health, focused on the cultural specificities and needs of Black communities
• the development of collaborations with key local organizations, with the ultimate goal of creating a network for sharing best practices among partners

Empowering Generations: Strengthening Mental Health and Social Connections for Black Seniors and Youth in Calgary  

Lead/Recipient: Calgary Black Seniors Foundation 

Location: Calgary, Alberta 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $99,900

In brief: The project addresses the high rates of social isolation, intergenerational disconnection, and mental health challenges among Black seniors and youth in Calgary. The project will deliver tailored mental health workshops, including stress management, coping mechanisms, and basic needs support designed specifically for Black communities. The project will also focus on building community networks by fostering intergenerational connections between Black seniors and youth.

Intersectional Experiences and Mental Health: How Black LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Needs Are Met in Canada   

Lead/Recipient: Vancouver Black Therapy and Advocacy Foundation 

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $98,658

In brief: This project addresses the unique barriers Black LGBTQIA+ immigrants and refugees face in Canada by highlighting the intersecting impacts of mental health stigma, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination in Vancouver. The project aims to influence educational institutions, government and community programs to address these detrimental inequities. The project will hire a Community Outreach Coordinator to collaborate with the charity Rainbow Refugee, which caters to the LGBTQIA+ immigrant and refugee people in Vancouver, to ensure interventions are developed based on population needs. The project will also partner with Health Data Research Network Canada to develop surveys, focus group rubrics, demographic questionnaires, and testimonial forms to collect valuable data to guide the interventions.

“Together for Health Equity” Project

Lead/Recipient: Chez nous média 2007 (LAKAY)

Location: Lanaudière, Quebec 

Start date: April 202

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The project targets mental health inequalities faced by Black communities in Lanaudière, exacerbated by systemic racism, economic inequalities, and a lack of culturally appropriate services. The organization plans to organize community consultations with youth, single-parent families, and newcomers to identify their specific needs. Project activities include:

• capacity-building workshops with mental health professionals and community stakeholders on culturally appropriate practices, systemic racism, and intersectionality
• development of a practical resource guide for practitioners and the community, including recommendations and references to culturally appropriate services
• creation of an online platform to share resources, organize webinars, and disseminate knowledge to a wider audience
• organization of community events to mobilize the community and strengthen social cohesion

Promoting Mental Health Awareness Through Black Filmmaking in Manitoba  

Lead/Recipient: Manitoba African Film Festival Inc. 

Location: Manitoba

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The project aims to increase awareness and understanding among young Black filmmakers of mental health issues affecting Black Canadians. It will focus on the creation of culturally informed short films that highlight the mental health challenges faced by Black communities in Canada, particularly Manitoba. Through co-design workshops, community consultations, and feedback sessions, the project will engage Black youth, women, immigrants, and mental health professionals to ensure the stories reflect authentic lived experiences and foster ongoing dialogue within the community.

Let's get together: Healing and wellness space for Black seniors

Lead/Recipient: Collectif Art et Mémoire 

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The project aims to transform access to mental health for seniors of African descent by creating a holistic support model that combines a deep understanding of cultural realities and best practices in care. A culturally appropriate space will be created to serve as a refuge for Black seniors and promote their mental well-being through:

• intergenerational workshops
• mental health awareness workshops led by psychologists and community experts
• community celebrations
• thematic discussion groups

The project will also offer:

• psychosocial support programs
• training for mental health professionals and social workers to improve the quality of care provided to Black seniors
• training for families to raise awareness about mental health among seniors
• partnership development with other key stakeholders to increase the organization's capacity

At the end of the project, educational materials such as brochures, videos, and guides will be created to disseminate relevant information on the mental health of older adults of African descent.

The Shine Project: Nurturing Black Women’s Growth in New Brunswick  

Lead/Recipient: Shine Gathering for Women Foundation 

Location: Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick 

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $70,963

In brief: The project addresses the mental health disparities faced by Black women, particularly women who migrated from the Caribbean and Africa, with various citizenship statuses. The proposed project targets mental health risk factors linked to key social determinants of health:

• income and social status
• gender
• social supports
• coping skills
• the often unspoken challenges associated with migration such as trauma, family violence, and discrimination

Outcomes of these challenges can severely impact mental health and overall well‑being. Participants will engage in a structured, bilingual curriculum designed to foster inner healing, resilience, and leadership capacity though workshops, retreat events, and awareness sessions. Sessions will address trauma, coping strategies, and personal growth, and will foster sustained well‑being and leadership readiness among Black women across New Brunswick.

Socialization and Recreational Activities for Mental Health 

Lead/Recipient: Black Canadians for Cultural, Educational and Economic Progress  

Location: Windsor and Kitchener, Ontario

Start date: April 2025  

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The objective is to create culturally focused mental health programs that foster a sense of community, cultural connection, and emotional well-being for Black Canadian seniors. It aims to reduce social isolation and reconnect seniors and family with their cultural roots through the development and implementation of monthly community-based activities, including dance classes, traditional games, and movie nights. The project will promote mental well-being by creating safe spaces for seniors and family to share their experiences and challenges, fostering emotional support and resilience. It will also facilitate intergenerational programs where seniors can share cultural practices with younger generations, promoting a sense of purpose and cultural pride. Finally, the project will improve accessibility by providing transportation support and information sessions on navigating Canada’s social and health systems to enhance seniors’ engagement with available mental health resources.

Strengthening Families Initiative (SFI): Pathways to Healing (Focus on mental health)   

Lead/Recipient: Centre de ressources communautaires de Côte-des-Neiges / Snowdon 

Location: Montreal, Quebec 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The project aims to address the over-representation of English-speaking Black children and youth in Montreal’s child welfare system. It will develop and implement culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices to provide tailored support for individuals and families navigating these systems. This will involve training and upscaling staff, conducting a community needs assessment, and identifying gaps in services. The project will also establish sustainable, community-based support networks that offer resources and assistance to prevent system intervention, help families stay together, and ensure individuals receive the preventive and crisis response support they need. Key activities include:

• mapping and promoting existing trauma-informed, culturally adapted resources
• compiling tools and best practices to ensure sustainability
• creating an interdisciplinary advisory committee

Finally, the project will collect and analyze data to monitor outcomes for Black children, individuals, and families to inform effective interventions and drive long-term systemic change.

SUVAT Youth Healing and Empowerment Hub (SUVAT: Survivors of Violence and Trafficking)  

Lead/Recipient: Uzima Women Relief Group International 

Location:  Scarborough, Durham Region, Brampton, Toronto, Ontario

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $100,000   

In brief: The project will create a culturally relevant, trauma-informed space where Black youth can access mental health resources that speak to their unique experiences. The SUVAT Hub will offer peer support networks, self-care tools, and mental health workshops that focus on resilience, empowerment, and healing. The aim is to normalize conversations about mental health, reduce stigma, and help youth build strong and supportive networks. Activities will include:

• creating an advisory committee to support the delivery of the project
• community needs assessment
• creating and distributing bilingual, trauma-informed, culturally grounded resource materials
• an upgraded, interactive SUVAT platform, offering:
  • virtual peer support groups
  • mental health resources
  • self-help modules tailored for Black youth and survivors
  • training and best practices resources for organization staff and volunteers on trauma-informed and culturally competent practices and development of key partnerships

ArTeMo

Lead/Recipient: Council for the Advancement of African Canadians in Alberta (Africa Centre) 

Location: Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan

Start date: April 2025

Duration: 12 months

Funding amount: $100,000

In brief: The primary goal of this project is to enhance participants' understanding of mental health, its determinants, and raise awareness on available mental health resources. This project aims to enhance community engagement and build stronger social support networks within Black communities, to help address mental health challenges. Activities will include educational workshops, mentorship opportunities, and community training.

Fostering African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) Women’s Mental Health Wellness Gathering  

Lead/Recipient: Women's Health in Women's Hands 

Location: Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and Windsor, Ontario  

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $111,600

In brief: After the successful adaptation and pilot testing of the Living Life to the Full Course, a group-based interactive course based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Women's Health in Women's Hands is expanding the capacity and use of a peer-led model that improves the mental health of ACB women, through the creation of positive space for connections and collective wellness. This scale-up project offers the course to ACB women in addition to offering eLearning training to other organizations, which in turn will offer the course to ACB women within the communities that they serve. 

Halumbe Wellness Project: Supporting the Mental Health of Black Youth in Ottawa 

Lead/Recipient: Centre for Resilience and Social Development 

Location: Ottawa, Ontario 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: The project aims to promote the mental health and well-being of Black youth in the Ottawa School District, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through culturally relevant mental health interventions, the project will increase knowledge of the unique mental health needs and challenges faced by Black youth in Canada among teachers, administrators, and parents. This will include raising awareness on the role that social determinants of health play in shaping barriers to access mental health services. By promoting resilience and building capacity among the Black community, the program will help to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health support services for Black youth.

Illuminate - Improving access to Mental Health healthcare services for 2SLGBTQI+ Black Youth  

Lead/Recipient: Black Health Alliance 

Location: Ontario  

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: Illuminate is a sector strategy and research initiative designed to set the foundation for systemic change in the delivery of mental healthcare services for Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth. Grounded in an intersectional and systems-change approach, the project seeks to identify and address the barriers that Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth encounter when accessing mental health supports.

By centring the lived experiences of youth and actively engaging sector partners, Illuminate aims to build a more equitable and responsive mental healthcare system structured around 3 core activities:

1. Consultations with Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth and key sector stakeholders, including Black and Queer led community organizations and healthcare providers, to understand needs, priorities, and systemic gaps
2. Strategic partnership development to foster cross-sector collaboration
3. Co-development of resources that will inform an actionable sector strategy to drive long-term improvements in access and delivery of mental health services

Justice Hoodstique  

Lead/Recipient: Événement Hoodstock 

Location: Montreal, Quebec

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $124,973

In brief: The project is a restorative justice initiative that heals the social structure. It offers a series of workshops specifically designed for the unique needs of young people in the Black community aged 12 to 17 and adults aged 18 and over who have been charged with a criminal offense. The main activities of the project include retreats; during which various workshops are offered on topics like Black history, self-esteem, individual rights, yoga, Kasala, and emotion management. The goal is to work on self-rebuilding and repairing harm in the community. Once the program is successfully completed, the charges against the accused are dismissed so that they do not have a criminal record. Finally, the project will organize various events such as discussions, presentations, and workshops to raise awareness about restorative justice among the general public.

The Kit for Centering Black Youth Wellbeing  

Lead/Recipient: York University (YouthREX) 

Location: National

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: The project aims to reach over 500 youth-serving practitioners across Canada, providing them with tools to foster safer, more inclusive environments for Black youth. Activities will include online events, webinars, and in-person workshops for youth workers. Using newsletters, online content, and media outreach, YouthREX will share Black youth mental health resources widely between diverse youth sector stakeholders (including youth, youth workers, policymakers, and academics) in formats that are accessible, timely, and relevant. The project will also offer an interactive platform for practitioners to continue engaging on learnings from the Centering Black Youth Wellbeing certificate and to take action against anti-Black racism. This scale-up project is Canada-wide, with the exception of the in-person workshops within Ontario-based institutions and youth organizations.

Mindful Health Empowerment Network

Lead/Recipient: Black Creek Community Health Centre 

Location: Toronto (Jane and Finch Neighbourhood), Ontario  

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $116,407

In brief: This project provides a comprehensive support system for Black youth in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto by focusing on mental health and well-being supports. Key activities will include:

• academic and employment support where project staff will monitor progress and provide assistance with job seeking and career coaching
• life skills workshops
• field trips

The activities will increase Black youth mental health literacy through methods and strategies with which they can relate, including art-based activities. It will also provide a safe, respectful space where Black youth feel heard, valued and validated. The project will facilitate youth-adult mental health conversations, offering a platform for free discussions about mental health from both youth and adult perspectives within a cultural context. The project will bring together elders and community mentors in a safe space to share challenges, hopes, and dreams, fostering intergenerational dialogue.

Mobilizing Partnerships Project (Phase follow-up): Putting Resources into Action through Social Prescribing 

Lead/Recipient: Dalhousie University 

Location: Tri-County region and Halifax, Nova Scotia

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $124,834

In brief: The project aims to help those of African descent, who have received an impact of race and culture assessment report prior to conviction, build sustainable support networks that assist their reintegration into the community and to upscale the social prescribing effort of the previous phase of the project. Project activities will include:

• providing ongoing support for participants through by implementing social prescribing interventions
• establishing data tracking documents and data analysis on social prescriptions
• developing 3 Black-focused health and wellness videos based on existing training modules, to be used in institutions and community organizations
• developing 2 new Black-focused health and wellness training modules, to be used in institutions and community organizations
• publishing journal articles
• developing infographics

Our Stories, Our Voices: Mental Health Narratives and the Black LGBTQ+ Experience  

Lead/Recipient: Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism (In partnership with Adornment Stories)

Location: Greater Toronto Area, Ontario  

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: This project delivers culturally affirming, trauma-informed interventions to support Black LGBTQ+ individuals in Canada. It builds on evidence-based initiatives by creating restorative and safe spaces through retreats and gatherings that foster healing, community connection, and resilience against the compounded impacts of anti-Black racism, gender-based violence, and intersectional oppression. The project will also center Black LGBTQ+ voices in leadership and knowledge-sharing programs. To strengthen long-term impact, the project will provide mentorship, training, and honorariums to emerging Black LGBTQ+ leaders, fostering their representation in the mental health field. The Gathering will convene 50 attendees to explore systemic barriers in mental health services for black LGBTQ+ individuals.

Theatre for Positive Mental Health  

Lead/Recipient: Moyo Health and Community Services 

Location: Toronto, Ontario  

Start date: March 2025  Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $124,048

In brief: This project will address significant mental health needs of the African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities through a series of tailored sessions and participatory theatre. Collaborative efforts with Peer Advisory Group members will inform improved practice for mental health service providers. The project will also develop case-based learning tools with a focus on social determinants of health for the target audiences. Over the course of 8 weekly sessions, ACB individuals will participate in targeted set of activities, trainings and outreach events on the unique determinants of health that impact Black people. The group sessions that include participatory theatre will provide protective factors against mental health challenges and further bolster the program's reach and ensure it remains responsive to community needs.

The Umoja project  

Lead/Recipient: Abiona Centre for Infant & Early Mental Health 

Location: Toronto, Ontario  

Start date: March 2025 

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: The project will develop and test a home-visiting model to promote positive mental health, resilience, and educational attainment and outcomes for Black adolescent mothers and their children. The model is based on previous successful home visiting models. Families will be supported in their own homes and schools by professionals and paraprofessionals offering them support and services they need to:

• stay in school
• find housing
• receive mental health support
• access health care and other critical resources

Upscale and Impact assessment of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Africans in Diaspora 

Lead/Recipient: Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario 

Location: Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario

Start date: March 2025  

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $124,159

In brief: The project aims to improve mental health awareness, support, and resilience within Black, African, and Caribbean communities by increasing access to culturally relevant MHFA training and resources. The organization will deliver MHFA training sessions in various provinces, reaching over 2,500 individuals. In addition, they will establish a community facilitation support network, which will include a peer mentoring program and a virtual community of practice platform to enhance the facilitation skills of trained MHFA instructors. Finally, the project will create a storytelling workshop and conduct story synthesis to capture the experiences and insights of participants.

Youth Mental Wellness Program 

Lead/Recipient: Aspire for Higher Elite Basketball 

Location: Brampton, Mississauga, and Ajax, Ontario 

Start date: March 2025

Duration: 13 months

Funding amount: $125,000

In brief: Based on an existing program, this project will implement a 12-week health promotion after school program to educate Black youth about mental health using an anti-Black racism lens. This intervention will engage Black youth aged 12 to 14 and train program facilitators aged 15 to 34. Evidence-based, culturally-appropriate curriculum through in-class learning sessions and on-court basketball sessions, will be implemented twice a week. The project will also continue its collaboration with YouthREX to publish program data from January 2022 to May 2023. The project plans to submit the findings to academic journals focused on youth mental health, contributing to the limited literature on Black mental health in Canada and potentially informing the development of a National Black Mental Health Strategy.

Amandla Olwazi 2.0 – Mobilizing knowledge through Roda circles

Lead/Recipient: TAIBU Community Health Centre

Location: National

Duration: 13 months, March 2025 to March 2026

Funding amount: $229,640

In brief: TAIBU will work collaboratively with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Mental Health of Black Canadians (MHBC) funded projects and the MHBC Working Group to develop a National Knowledge Mobilization Plan to help maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of MHBC-funded projects’ activities and impact. To help inform the supports needed by MHBC-funded projects, TAIBU will also conduct a needs assessment with funding recipients to identify useful products and activities. 5 capacity building knowledge products and 2 knowledge events will be developed in collaboration with new MHBC-funded projects to support community organizations’ in building sustainability and resilience. In addition, TAIBU will also conduct an assessment of the Black Wellness Network website to identify traffic, engagement opportunities, enhance user experience, and maintain and expand the Black Wellness Network.

African-Caribbean-Black (ACB) Women Living Life to the Full: Peer Based Mental Health Promotion Initiatives for ACB Women

Lead/Recipient: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre
Location: Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor and Hamilton, ON
Start date: July 2019
Duration: 46 months
In brief: The project is testing and adapting the Living Life to the Full Course, a group-based interactive course based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This course is being adapted to be women-centered, adopt an anti-oppressive approach, and address the unique determinants of health for African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) women in a culturally appropriate way. The project is developing training materials, in consultation with the community and an advisory group, and establishing a network of peer facilitators to deliver the training.
The project focuses on hard-to-serve and marginalized ACB women, which include newcomers, immigrants, refugees, women on low incomes, women with complex health and mental health issues, youth and LGBTQ2+. The project responds to a research study conducted by the applicants that identified several barriers to mental health specific to ACB women, including stigma, distrust of services and lack of cultural competence in service providers.

ArTeMo Project

Lead/Recipient: Council for the Advancement of African Canadians (Africa Centre)
Location: Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, AB
Start date: November 2019
Duration: 36 months
In brief: The project is developing and testing a suite of culturally informed interventions for Black Canadian youth, particularly those in marginalized situations. The project seeks to increase knowledge on addressing mental health and its determinants through programs that connect youth to their culture, create a sense of belonging and identity, and enhance empowerment. Activities for youth include workshops, community fora, youth conferences, mentorship and employment support, mental health services navigation and cultural learning activities. The project also includes activities for organizations that provide services to at-risk Black youth such as health care, social services and law enforcement in order to increase cultural competency of these organizations and facilitate access to services. The project principally targets Black Canadian youth facing social and economic barriers such as homelessness, pre-existing mental health conditions or diverse sexual orientation or identities. The project also focuses on newcomer and refugee families with youth from war-torn countries.

Jane-Finch Wellness Advocates for Youth (WAY)

Lead/Recipient: Black Creek Community Health Centre
Location: Greater Toronto Area, ON
Start date: October 2019
Duration: 23 Months
In brief: The project aims to improve the understanding of the mental health and well-being of hard-to-reach Black youth from the Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto, particularly as it relates to the social determinants of health. The project is researching, implementing and evaluating interventions for supporting hard-to-reach Black youth and improving their educational and mental health outcomes. Programming addresses the social determinants of mental health and includes supports for alternative learning, food security, housing and employment. Mentors are helping Black youth navigate through difficult community issues such as substance use, criminal activity, street involvement and trauma associated with witnessing violence. The primary target population of the project is hard-to-reach Black youth, in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto. The project is delivering interventions and activities for families, social service organizations and the broader youth community. The project directly involves a cohort of Black youth as well as engaging their families, peer mentors and other community members.

Pathways to Care: Improving Mental Health and Addictions Services for Black Children, Youth and their Families in Ontario

Lead/Recipient: Black Health Alliance
Location: Greater Toronto Area, ON
Start date: July 2019
Duration: 45 months
In brief: The project aims to define and improve pathways to care for Black children, youth, and their families who require mental health and addictions services. The project builds on an existing project that is currently focused on Black youth aged 12 to 29. The project activities include documenting a treatment protocol and best practices for delivering cultural safe and responsive mental healthcare for Black children and their families and then working with organizations to collaborate on implementing these practices. Furthermore, the project is building capacity amongst families, caregivers and communities to support the mental health care needs of children in areas such as stigma, mental health first-aid and systems navigation. The target population includes children aged 5 to 11 and their families. The project is enhancing service to French speaking and Francophone Black Ontarians.

Mental Health of Black Communities in the National Capital Region: Assessment, Prevention and Intervention Tools

Lead/Recipient: University of Ottawa
Location: Ottawa, ON
Start date: June 2019
Duration: 48 months
In brief: The project aims to better understand and support the social determinants and mental health needs of Black youth and their families from both French and English communities in the National Capital Region. Research on the prevalence of mental health challenges in these communities, the underlying causes, and the current patterns of service use is informing the development of resources and supports currently lacking for this population. The project is developing and distributing education and awareness materials, as well as culturally-adapted tools to support the communities' and mental health practitioners' needs. Black youth are involved in the longitudinal study of the project. Moreover, the academic community is reached through scientific articles in English and French scientific journals.

STAY (Storytelling, Training, Advocacy, and Youth drop-in)- Strengthening the Ecosystems of Black Youth Facing Involvement with Child Welfare or Protective Services

Lead/Recipient: Head and Hands / À deux Mains
Location: Montreal, QC
Start date: October 2019
Duration: 36 months
In brief: The project is developing a series of programs to build the capacity of Black youth in child welfare or protective services, referred to as "youth in care", as well as other marginalized Black youth, to express themselves and advocate for themselves on issues related to mental well-being, while also working to train community workers to better serve these youth. The project seeks to improve the mental health and well-being of Black youth by developing their skills and knowledge around their own mental health needs and creating safe spaces for peer support and social inclusion. As well, the project aims to improve the social environment and service provision for marginalized Black youth by sensitizing organizations that interact with marginalized Black youth to their needs and decreasing stigma.

The IMARA Generation Peer Leadership

Lead/Recipient: TAIBU Community Health Centre
Location: Greater Toronto Area, ON
Start date: June 2019
Duration: 46 months
In brief: The project is collaborating with Black youth to co-develop a youth-focused, culturally appropriate mental health awareness and support program. This youth peer leadership program is being delivered through community organizations in the Greater Toronto Area that serve Black youth. It is engaging the families of Black youth to teach them about positive parenting and mentorship and their influence on mental health.
The project aligns with TAIBU's recently developed and adapted Model of Black Health and Wellbeing, as well as the Afrocentric principles of self-determination, collective work and responsibility, and unity. The project works with youth aged 15 to 24 who identify as Black or of African descent, and their families. Outreach and recruitment include a focus on groups at higher risk such as East African youth, Francophone youth, LGBTQ youth, and youth of Muslim faith. Family members are engaged to provide youth with support and mentorship.

Towards Positive Change to Promote Mental Health and Well-being for Black Canadians in Manitoba

Lead/Recipient: Barbados Association of Winnipeg Inc.
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Start date: October 2019
Duration: 24 months
In brief: The project aims to develop a culturally appropriate toolkit for mental health promotion and equity based on community engagement. The project is researching existing mental health promotion tools and selecting a model to adapt to be culturally appropriate for Black Canadians. The ultimate goal is that the toolkit be integrated by organizations serving Black communities in Winnipeg, the province of Manitoba, and possibly nationally. The tool kit will address issues and topics relevant to a range of Black Canadian populations that organizations may be serving, including youth, adults, seniors and newcomers.

Youth Mental Wellness Program

Lead/Recipient: Aspire for Higher
Location: Brampton, ON
Start date: April 2021
Duration: 29 months
In brief: The project aims to implement a 12-week health promotion after school program to educate Black youth about mental health using an anti-Black racism lens. This intervention will train program facilitators aged 15-34 to deliver an in-class learning session and on court basketball sessions for youth aged 12-14. The evidence-based, culturally appropriate curriculum was developed in the incubation phase of the project. The overarching goal of the project is to create a safe space for learning and discussion on improving mental health of Black youth.

Justice hoodistique

Lead/Recipient: Événement Hoodstock
Location: Montréal-Nord, QC
Start date: July 2021
Duration: 33 months
In Brief: The Justice hoodistique program is a pilot project designed to be integrated into the extrajudicial sanctions program and the General Alternative Measures Program for young Afro-descendants aged 12 to 35 who are accused of a crime. The program will promote a holistic, multidisciplinary and intersectional approach that considers human beings in all their complexity, not just in terms of criminality and victimization. Reparation, to the community or to the victim, is fundamental to this program, as is the rebuilding of self. Although the pilot project is geared toward restorative justice on a local scale, the goal is to expand its reach in Quebec and share the lessons learned with other provinces and territories in Canada.

Promoting Black Students' Mental Health: A Pan-Canadian Research and Intervention Project on Social Determinants of Health and Equity in Canadian Universities

Lead/Recipient: York University
Location: Atlantique, Québec, Ontario, Prairies
Start date: August 2021
Duration: 35 months
In Brief: The purpose of this bilingual pan-Canadian project, being led by Dr. Agnès Berthelot-Raffard (School of Health Polis to conduct research, implement interventions promoting mental health and generate new knowledge. First, the project uses qualitative and quantitative research to generate previously unpublished knowledge and evidence-based data on the social determinants of mental health of students in Black Canadian communities. Second, based on capacity building, the project aims to identify, create and develop culturally adapted psychoeducational interventions to improve health equity for Black students according to their needs and to promote positive mental health in this demographic. Lastly, using a community and action research approach, this pan-Canadian project aims to counter the systemic barriers faced by Black university students from diverse communities and backgrounds. The project results will support Canadian universities in developing innovative approaches for equity and social justice and implementing on-campus mental health services that are culturally adapted to the realities of Black students.

Journey Mapping Across Canada– Black LGBTQ+ Justice, Sexual & Mental Health

Lead/Recipient: Ribbon Rouge Foundation
Location: Edmonton, AB
Start date: July 2021
Duration: 32 months
In Brief: The project seeks to gather and mobilize information on the experiences and barriers faced by LGBTQI+ individuals as they navigate services for mental health, substance use and addictions, sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI), and criminal justice involvement. The aim of this project is to improve support and skills and share programs and interventions that have a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of Black LGBTQI+ communities.

Our Stories, Our Voices: Mental Health Narratives and the Black LGBTQ+ Experience

Lead/Recipient: Across Boundaries - An Ethnoracial Mental Health Center (In partnership with Adornment Stories)
Location: Toronto, ON
Start date: July 2021
Duration: 32 months
In Brief: The project aims to increase understanding of the mental health needs and experiences of Black LGBTQI+ communities in order to build capacity and provide leadership opportunities for its members, make mental health conversations more accessible, and find approaches to promote positive mental health. As part of the project, tools, resources and a curricula will be developed to support leadership training, practitioner training and community workshops. The project expects to reach more than 300 Black LGBTQI+ individuals, with priority given to Black Trans, non-binary, queer persons, and those who face poverty, migration, and disability.

Sustaining Ecosystems of Healing: Creating Culturally Relevant Mental Health Resources for Black 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth

Lead/Recipient: The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Youth Project society (The Youth Project)
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Start date: July 2021
Duration: 31 months
In Brief: Sustaining Ecosystems of Healing is a youth-centric project that utilizes anti-oppressive and trauma informed frameworks through a creative arts model to address barriers that Black 2SLGBTQIA+ youth (ages 30 and under) face in accessing supportive mental health resources. These realities will be examined through a Black-centric intercultural and culturally relevant lens in service, programming, education, mentorship and resource provision to participants while also creating engaging and informative resources and offering meaningful mentorship opportunities to the greater African Nova Scotian and Black communities provincially and ultimately nationally. This project is dedicated to creating and carving spaces to increase resilience and further empower provincial Black 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, all the while strengthening collaboration within Black 2SLGBTQIA+ holistic health and wellness services provincially.

Amandla Olwazi – The Power of Knowledge

Lead/Recipient: TAIBU Community Health Centre
Location: Greater Toronto Area, ON
Start date: October 2021
Duration: 20 months
In Brief: The project seeks to develop a national knowledge network in support of the Government of Canada's Mental Health of Black Canadians (MHBC) Fund. By developing a central space for knowledge sharing, the project will build capacity within Black communities by increasing knowledge of mental health and addressing inequalities and social determinants of health, using culturally responsive and Afrocentric approaches. This project will work to improve awareness of an Afrocentric perspective, and create positive change in policies and practices that impact the mental health and wellbeing of Black Canadians.