Ensuring that young people in Canada have access to appropriate mental health care is crucial for helping them reach their full potential. With stress and anxiety increasingly impacting youth, providing easy and equitable access to mental health services is essential.
In Budget 2024, the government announced a $500 million investment over five years to establish the Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF). This fund aims to support communities, organizations, and stakeholders nationwide that provide mental health services to youth. It will help expand mental health care for young people and ensure organizations can effectively refer youth to broader networks of support when needed.
The YMHF represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our youth, coming at a critical time. To ensure the fund reflects the needs and voices of young people, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, has launched a public online consultation to inform the fund’s development.
Running from June 24 to July 31, 2024, the consultation invites all Canadians, including youth, families, academics, government representatives, Indigenous organizations, and community groups, to share their perspectives and expertise.
The insights gathered through this consultation, alongside engagement with provinces, territories, Indigenous partners, community organizations, and youth, will help shape this initiative to meet the complex mental health needs of young people across the country.
The online consultation to inform the development of the Youth Mental Health Fund will take place from June 24 to July 31, 2024.
Through the Mental Health Promotion – Innovation Fund, the Government of Canada is investing $46.3 million from 2019 to 2029 to promote mental health among children, youth, and their caregivers.
As part of the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians Plan, the Government of Canada is committing nearly $200 billion over 10 years to enhance health services nationwide. This includes $46.2 billion in new funding for provinces and territories, with $25 billion allocated for tailored agreements to support shared priorities, including increased access to mental health and substance use services.
Additionally, through the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, $10 million has been invested to support culturally focused mental health programs and knowledge for Black individuals and communities.
The Government of Canada has also committed $59 million through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to advance the Integrated Youth Services Network of Networks (IYS-Net) initiative. This initiative aims to expand youth service networks across Canada, creating a system where research and lived experiences guide improvements in mental health and substance use services.
