Today, on National Child and Youth Mental Health Day, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced $30.3 million in support of 21 projects through the Youth Mental Health Fund.
This investment will help more young people access inclusive, community-based mental health supports across Canada. This funding will enable community organizations to expand and strengthen their services through a range of initiatives, making it easier for youth to access timely and appropriate support.
These projects complement federal investments in Integrated Youth Services (IYS), which together help make mental health services easier to navigate and use across cities, towns, and rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The projects will help address gaps in the local availability of mental health resources, including training and supports. There is a focus on delivering culturally safe services designed for the diverse needs of Canadian youth, including 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, Indigenous, Black and racialized youth, newcomers, Francophone communities, young men and boys, and those facing complex challenges like homelessness.
Two projects will support the development of Canada's first ever national clinical guidelines for problematic gambling in youth and new guidelines for the treatment of youth eating disorders - two conditions that often emerge during adolescence and young adulthood. These guidelines will help ensure more consistent, evidence-based care across the country.
