New funding will support a national evidence platform and advance implementation science to improve care for youth and families
Young people across Canada face barriers to accessing timely, effective mental health care. To bridge the gap between research and real-world care, the Government of Canada is investing more than $13 million through the Youth Mental Health Fund to strengthen youth mental health research and support the delivery of evidence-based care across Canada.
Today, Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced two new funding opportunities led by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):
- $7.35 million to establish the National Platform for Evidence-based Programs and Practices; and
- $6 million to advance Evaluation and Implementation Science for Youth Mental Health.
Building on previous federal investments in the Integrated Youth Service Network of Networks (IYS-Net)-which connects provincial, territorial, and Indigenous youth service networks across Canada-this funding will generate new evidence to support the identification, evaluation, sharing, and scaling of effective mental health interventions for youth across the country.
The National Platform for Evidence-based Programs and Practices will serve as a pan-Canadian hub, bringing together youth, families, researchers, and policymakers to share resources and make it easier for communities to identify, implement, and scale evidence-based mental health programs.
The Evaluation and Implementation Science stream will support research focused on identifying successful mental health interventions and understanding how they can be adapted and expanded in diverse, real-world settings. This collaborative work will support tailoring care to meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, as well as equity-denied populations.
The funding opportunities for both initiatives are now open. Eligible researchers, clinicians, and community partners are encouraged to review the application requirements and apply through the CIHR Funding Opportunity portal before the Fall 2026 deadline.
