Application for The Youth Mental Health Fund is now opened. The Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF), announced by the federal government in Budget 2024, aims to improve the mental health of youth and their families, and to enhance access to, and navigation of, mental health services with a particular focus on equity-deserving groups.
The fund would contribute to long-term improvements in mental health outcomes for youth and to advance the creation of a strengthened, integrated and accessible youth mental health system that addresses the needs of equity-deserving and underserved youth populations.
Specifically, the fund seeks to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of mental health supports and services for youth by:
- Building capacity, or supporting the expansion of Integrated Youth Services (IYS) networks and hubs
- building capacity in community organizations providing mental health services and supports to diverse youth populations
- Building capacity of mental wellness supports in Indigenous communities or in organizations that support First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth
For this funding opportunity, Health Canada is seeking proposals for projects under the following Youth Mental Health Fund priority:
- Building capacity in and supporting community-based organizations that provide mental health services to youth with the goal of facilitating and strengthening linkages to the broader mental health care system, such as IYS networks to expand their reach and serve more youth.
Eligibility
The following types of Canadian applicants are eligible for funding for this opportunity:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Public post secondary education institutions
Note that applicants from Quebec are not eligible, as the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux is managing funds for Quebec.
Application Process
Download the Application form. Instructions on how to complete an application package are in Annex A of the applicant guide. An application package includes the Application form and any additional attachments referred to in the Application form.
A completed application package must be electronically signed and submitted to YMHF-FSMJ@hc-sc.gc.ca by January 22, 2025.
All proposals should demonstrate how the project will:
- improve youth mental health
- improve access to care in community settings
- prioritize highest unmet needs
- include evaluation and measurement
Additionally, Health Canada will further prioritize projects for funding based on urgency, geographical representation, readiness for implementation, complementarity with existing initiatives, and system integration.
Applicant guide
For more information about eligibility, application requirements and the application process, please consult the Youth Mental Health Fund: Applicant guide. Health Canada recommends you download and save a copy to your computer.
Application Deadline – 22nd January, 2025
For more information, visit Youth Mental Health Fund
