The federal government has announced $46 million in spending to improve youth mental health across Canada.
Mental Health and Addictions Minister Ya'ara Saks said the money will be provided to a number of organizations over a period of five years via the newly created Youth Mental Health Fund.
During a press conference at Foundry in Vancouver on Thursday, Saks explained that in recent years, young Canadians have suffered due to the rising cost of living, global conflicts, and climate change. She noted that while there are number of excellent initiatives and groups tackling that problem, more needed to be done.
"Our government made a commitment," she said, "and that commitment was to ensure that young people have timely access to appropriate services and supports and to make sure we're meeting them where they are."
Saks went on to note that distance, time, and stigma were all preventing young Canadians from getting the help they need, and vowed to "break these barriers down." She added that locally-oriented organizations were "at the heart of making mental health care more accessible."
Six projects have already received funding, three of which are located in Ontario. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, for example, got $4.4 million to "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."
Providence Health Care in BC received $10 million to "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."
When asked by the Western Standard why the government had just now decided it was finally time to announce spending on youth mental health, Saks said developing a proper plan took time, and said it would build on the longstanding Integrated Youth Service Network.
She also assured that youth in remote areas would receive the help they need.
