Health Canada announces $500 million in funding for youth mental health

Health Canada announced $500 million in funds over five years for community youth mental health service expansions across the country — a commitment made in the government’s 2024 budget.

The first call for applications is open to community mental health organizations until Jan. 22.

The current round of funding will prioritize community-based organizations with the goal of expanding the mental health care system to serve more youth, including reaching underserved populations and Indigenous youth, a Health Canada spokesperson wrote in an email statement to The Runner.

“Recognizing that certain youth populations … have been disproportionately affected, this initiative is designed to address these disparities and provide targeted support where it is most needed,” Health Canada wrote. 

The government emphasizes a need for the expansion of “community-based mental health care,” a patient-centred model of care provided outside a hospital setting, according to Health Canada. The model integrates mental health supports into community settings, including schools and workplaces, offering services like counseling and peer support. 

Health Canada reported suicide is the second-leading cause of death for the 15-to-34 age group, with Indigenous youth aged 15 to 24 having a five-to-six-times higher suicide rate than non-Indigenous youth. Almost two-thirds of mental health disorders in Canada appear before the age of 25. 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University student Puneet Kaur says her neighbour, a fellow international student from India, was hospitalized with depression stemming from the stressful burden of unemployment, the high cost of living, and homesickness. 

In the end, she had to leave the country and return to India after missing classes while in hospital. 

“I think mental health, as well as more health support systems, [are] quite important … especially youngsters at this age, they definitely need it,” Kaur says. “Being an international student, I think it’s quite important.”

She adds that international students are prone to suffering from loneliness since they are away from home and can feel like there is no support system behind them. 

Kaur says funding should go into improving the circumstances of young people, such as bringing down the cost of living and increasing employment opportunities — key factors she finds are contributing to her peers’ mental health challenges. 

“We have to use a lot of money, so it’s quite hard, especially when the rate is so high and you can’t manage it. So it’s really important [to] have a support system,” Kaur says. “When our [mental] health is good, we have energy to do several other things [like] extra-curricular activities.” 

With many young people struggling with their mental health across Canada — including newcomers, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, women and girls, and the unhoused population — the fund aims to expand services directed at youth, Health Canada wrote.

“From the pressures of social media to uncertainties about the future fueled by affordability, global conflict, climate change and more, youth are growing up with different realities,” Health Canada wrote. “It’s crucial that all youth have timely access to appropriate services and supports right in their communities from the organizations they trust.”

If you or someone you know is in need of emergency mental services, text or call 9-8-8 for the Suicide Crisis Helpline or dial 3-1-0 for provincial mental health crisis support.