Youth mental health: About the Youth Mental Health Fund
Improving access to mental health care for young people across Canada
On this page
- About the Youth Mental Health Fund
- Enhancing community-based health services
- Active agreements
- Resources
About the Youth Mental Health Fund
Young people across Canada are struggling with their mental health. It's crucial that they have timely access to the right services and supports within their communities.
Through the Youth Mental Health Fund, the Government of Canada is making strategic investments to create lasting and meaningful improvements in the mental health of youth and for their families.
This includes investments to:
- Increase access to community-based mental health services
- improve navigation and referral to mental health services and supports
The fund will help:
- improve the mental health of youth aged 12 to 25 (with flexibility)
- equip community-based organizations to offer more mental health services tailored to youth and their families and make referrals to other service providers when needed
- provide youth with the mental health supports they need, ensuring a healthy transition into adulthood and the opportunity to reach their full potential
To help make sure that youth mental health services are equitable, culturally safe, accessible and in line with the needs of diverse communities, the fund was designed with input from:
- youth, including equity-deserving youth and Indigenous youth
- researchers
- health professionals
- national Indigenous organizations
- organizations that serve young people
Enhancing community-based health services
Reducing obstacles in accessing mental health care is particularly important for youth experiencing health inequities, such as:
- Black youth
- Indigenous youth
- young women and girls
- youth who identify as 2SLGBTQI+
- youth living in low-income households
- refugee, newcomer or immigrant youth
- youth residing in rural and remote areas
- youth experiencing systemic discrimination and racism
- youth facing other social or structural barriers or youth with overlapping realities
Community organizations are key partners in providing youth with the mental health services they need where they live, go to school and spend time with their peers.
By being based in the communities they serve, these organizations gain a deeper understanding of the needs, cultural sensitivities, and challenges local youth face. This helps them provide more effective care.
The fund also supports the development and expansion of Indigenous-led youth mental wellness services shaped by Indigenous youth, communities and partners.
Data on youth mental heath in Canada
- Many mental health conditions first appear in adolescence. Almost two thirds of mental health disorders emerge before the age of 25, and nearly half do before 18. (Mental Health and Access to Care Survey 2022, Health Canada analysis).
- In 2022, 1 in 4 youth in Canada had been diagnosed with a mental illness (Mental Health and Access to Care Survey 2022, Health Canada analysis).
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 34. The suicide rate among Indigenous youth aged 15-24 is 5 to 6 times the rates seen in the non-Indigenous population. (Public Health Agency of Canada).
Active agreements
7 agreements have been put in place under the Youth Mental Health Fund. They are listed below. Further investments will be announced over the coming months.
Here for Youth: Increasing access and navigation to Integrated Youth Services across Manitoba
- Organization: The United Way of Winnipeg
- Location: Manitoba
- Description: Increase access and navigation to Integrated Youth Services across Manitoba. Building on existing successes to open 2 additional Huddle youth hubs. Enhance and expand direct services for youth across Manitoba.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 1
- Contribution agreement: Approximately $10 million
Enhancing Health Equity in Integrated Youth Services
- Organization: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Location: Ontario
- Description: Community integration with specialized, culturally competent care. Strengthen and expand Integrated Youth Services for equity-deserving youth across Ontario. Enhance collaboration between Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario Hub Networks and community organizations.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 1
- Contribution agreement: Approximately $10 million
Accelerate access to Integrated Youth Services across British Columbia through the Foundry network
- Organization: Providence Health Care
- Location: British Columbia
- Description: Support the expansion of hubs to more communities and youth who lack physical access to care for equity-deserving populations, including Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, sexually-diverse and gender-diverse youth.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 1
- Contribution agreement: Approximately $10 million
Improving Vulnerable Youth Outcomes through a Clinical and Wrap-Around Supports Model of Care
- Organization: Choices for Youth
- Location: Newfoundland
- Description: Expanding Family and Natural Supports programs to support children, youth and young families access to mental health, housing, education and employment, and other wrap-around social services.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 1
- Contribution agreement: $10 million
Developing a Hospital-Based Consultation-Liaison Service and Collaborative Care Model for Black Youth in Ontario
- Organization: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Location: Ontario
- Description: Address systemic inequities and improve equitable, timely access to culturally-responsive mental health and substance use care by establishing a Consultation-Liaison Service and Collaborative Care Model for Black youth aged 12 to 29 in Ontario.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 2
- Contribution agreement: Approximately $4.4 million
Project Afiya
- Organization: The Centre for Resilience and Social Development
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario
- Description: Provide and enhance access to culturally-responsive and trauma-informed mental health care to youth and their families in low-equity neighborhoods in Ottawa, including for Black, immigrant, refugee, and racialized youth aged 12 to 24.
- Duration: February 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 2
- Contribution agreement: Approximately $2 million
Kickstand Network Expansion Project
- Organization: Kickstand
- Location: Alberta
- Description: Kickstand will expand its network with the addition of 5 new Kickstand hubs and offer in-person and virtual sessions across all existing and new sites. It will also implement a provincial peer support program particularly aimed at at-risk youth.
- Duration: August 2025 to March 2029
- Project stream: Stream 1
- Contribution agreement: $10 million
Resources
Resources for youth
- Kids Help Phone
- 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
- Get Help Here: Mental health support
- Hope for Wellness Helpline for Indigenous Peoples
About mental health
- Positive mental health
- Protective and risk factors
- Mental Health in Canada Dashboard
- Determinants of health and health equity
- Promoting mental health and wellbeing for children and youth: Protective factors (infographic)