Youth mental health: About the Youth Mental Health Fund

Improving access to mental health care for young people across Canada

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

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.

Stream 1

The Integrated Youth Services Collaboration Centre (IYS CC)

Organization: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Location: National
Description: Serve as the pan-Canadian convener for IYS Networks and leaders. Lead collaboration, training and workforce development, data integration and knowledge sharing to support the measurement-based spread of the model across Canada grounded in evidence and youth experience.
Duration: December 2024 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 1
Contribution agreement: Approximately $16 million

Pathways to Wellness: Expanding Culturally Safe Mental Health Care for Youth Across New Brunswick

Organization: Canadian Mental Health Association – New Brunswick

Location: New Brunswick

Description: As part of expanding its reach to youth, this initiative will pilot mobile mental health outreach services in two rural/remote areas of New Brunswick, design new culturally safe service pathways into Integrated Youth Services hubs for high needs youth, including those experiencing neurodevelopmental or eating disorders, and will implement virtual services across all new and existing hubs.

Duration: September 16, 2025 – March 31, 2029

Project stream: Stream 1

Contribution agreement: Approximately $10 million

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 and Labrador
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

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

Yukon Integrated Youth Services Pilot

Organization: BYTE – Empowering Youth
Location: Yukon
Description: Establish an Integrated Youth Services hub in Whitehorse and deliver a mobile wellness unit to improve access to integrated mental health and wellness services to youth living in rural, remote, and underserved communities across the territory.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 1
Contribution agreement: $6.6 million

Connected Futures: Anchoring Services and Care in Community for Youth in Nova Scotia

Organization: IWK Health
Location: Nova Scotia
Description: Strengthen integrated service capacity across 8 hubs through additional staffing and facility enhancements, while extending access to underserved communities and improving access to coordinated, culturally responsive, and multilingual services for youth and families.
Duration: July 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 1
Contribution agreement: Approximately $10 million

Stream 2

MindFit Toolkit Youth

Organization: Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
Location: National
Description: Deliver digital mental health supports for male-identifying youth aged 12 to 29, including trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals, by providing tools and resources that connect youth to services in urban and rural areas across Canada.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.2 million

Strengthening Connections: Enhancing Mental Health Service Access for Youth Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness

Organization: Covenant House Vancouver
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Description: Improve mental health outcomes for youth, including Indigenous youth, at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Vancouver by enhancing access to and navigation of services.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $2 million

Enhancing Youth Mental Health Support Through Outreach and Collaboration

Organization: Kaslo Community Services Society
Location: Kaslo, British Columbia
Description: Improve access to trauma-informed and culturally responsive mental health supports for underserved rural youth and families through the addition of a youth outreach worker. Strengthen coordination with schools, primary care, and regional services.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $400,000

Empowering Youth: Expanding Access and Building Capacity in Cowichan

Organization: Cowichan Valley Youth Services Society
Location: Cowichan Valley (Duncan area), British Columbia
Description: Expand access to quality counselling services for youth in rural, remote and underserved communities in Cowichan Valley through additional clinical expertise.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1 million

Bridge to Hope: Building Capacity for Youth Mental Health Services

Organization: BridgePoint Center Inc.
Location: Milden, Saskatchewan
Description: Improve access to care for youth affected by eating disorders care by strengthening services, expanding virtual care and providing training to other community organizations to support early identification and intervention.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.5 million

Youth Crisis Intervention Program

Organization: Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services
Location: Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
Description: Support youth affected by sexual violence by strengthening crisis intervention and trauma-informed supports, enhancing access to specialized services, and enhancing referral pathways. Promote awareness and reduce stigma through public education activities.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $800,000

Promoting Access to Therapy and Healing (PATH)

Organization: Resilia Community Wellness Centre
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Description: Provide culturally safe mental health services and supports for newcomer and immigrant youth and families through counselling, peer support, and mental health literacy workshops.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.8 million

Building Resilience and Attachment in Youth with Suicidal Ideation in French: A Family Approach

Organization: Valoris for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell
Location: Rockland, Ontario
Description: Deliver a mental health group program for marginalized youth in Prescott-Russell, including French-speaking families, to reduce wait times and support adolescents experiencing suicidal ideation.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $900,000

The Help in Hand Program: Leveraging Digital Mental Health Technologies to Support Youth and Schools in Northwestern Ontario

Organization: Lakehead University
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Description: Train staff in school and community organizations on youth mental health, how to use a vetted digital mental health tool that helps youth build coping skills and manage their mental health, and connect youth to appropriate services.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: $2 million

Mobile Youth Walk-In

Organization: Dufferin Child and Family Services
Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Description: Improve access to mental health services for youth aged 12 to 25 in rural Dufferin County, through a fully equipped mobile walk-in unit with trained professionals to reach underserved youth.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: $1.5 million

Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Initiative

Organization: Canadian Mental Health Association: Peel Branch
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Description: Support youth transitioning from child to adult mental health systems through dedicated staff that will provide coordinated, person-centered care and flexible treatment options.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $2.0 million

Culturally Responsive Mental Health Pathways for Asian Youth in the Greater Toronto Area

Organization: HF Care
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Description: Improve access to culturally appropriate mental health services for Asian youth and families through counselling and connections to services across the Greater Toronto Area and online.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.9 million

Fostering Mental Health & Wellness in Youth Survivors of Sexual Violence

Organization: Women’s Support Network of York Region
Location: Newmarket, Ontario
Description: Deliver trauma-informed mental health supports for youth survivors of sexual violence, including young women and girls, as well as transgender and gender-diverse youth by expanding access to counselling, crisis services, and caregiver supports.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.8 million

Scaling KHP’s Online Messaging Service for Youth

Organization: Kids Help Phone
Location: National
Description: Expand the availability of a widget that enables free, one-on-one bilingual access to a crisis texting response service from a community organization’s website or platform, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Canada.
Duration: March 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: $2 million

Improving access to mental health care in postsecondary education through Francophone community collaboration

Organization: Université de Moncton
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
Description: Strengthen mental health services for Francophone postsecondary students by improving access to walk-in services, and continuity of care.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.9 million

Building Resilience and Breaking Barriers: Expanding Accessible Mental Health Services for Youth in Southeastern New Brunswick

Organization: Atlantic Wellness Community Centre
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick
Description: Expand youth mental health services in southeastern New Brunswick by increasing mental health human resources to deliver early supports for underserved youth, including rural, Francophone, newcomers and Indigenous youth.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.3 million

Dalhousie In Community, With Community: Empowering Youth Mental Health Through Knowledge Sharing and Education

Organization: Dalhousie University
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Description: Strengthen mental health services by providing training and education to community-based organizations to jointly deliver mental health care for youth who face systemic barriers to access, including those in rural communities.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.7 million

Stronger Together: Empowering 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth and Families

Organization: PEERS Alliance Inc.
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Description: Improve access to culturally appropriate mental health services for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth by expanding programming and supports across urban and rural Prince Edward Island.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.6 million

YouthConnect: Newcomer Peer Mental Health Program

Organization: Association for New Canadians
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Description: Train peer support workers to deliver mental health supports and education to newcomer youth.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2029
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $1.6 million

Designing and Implementing National Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Youth with Eating Disorders

Organization: The Governors of The University of Calgary
Location: National
Description: Develop and implement updated national guidelines to improve the screening and treatment of eating disorders in children, adolescents and young adults across diverse and underserved communities.
Duration: November 2025 to August 2027
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $500,000

Development of Canadian, Youth Focused, Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Early Identification, Screening, Assessment, and Treatment of Problematic Gambling

Organization: Greo Evidence Insights
Location: National
Description: Develop Canada’s first evidence-based clinical guidelines to help identify and treat problem gambling among youth and young adults.
Duration: February 2026 to March 2028
Project stream: Stream 2
Contribution agreement: Approximately $800,000

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

Resources

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About mental health

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2026-08-05