Federal funding goes to YMCA to enable young people aged 13-30 years of age support in developing effective coping skills

By Pepper Parr

May 25, 2023

Burlington ON

Federal funding goes to YMCA to enable young people aged 13-30 years of age support in developing effective coping skills

Social isolation, virtual learning challenges, job insecurity, and financial hardship worsening their mental health and well-being; all part of the pandemic have had disproportionally impacted young people

Burlington MP Karina Gould out in the community

Burlington MP, Karina Gould, on behalf of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced a grant of $237,557 directly with an additional $50,000 through centralized resources and supports to the YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford.

The funding will support the scaling up and expansion of the “Y Mind” and “Mind Medicine” evidence-based, youth-informed, early intervention programs across Canada.

The programs are intended for young people aged 13-30 years of age who are experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression and aim to support the development of effective coping skills and improvements to participants’ overall well-being.

Y Mind introduces them to evidence-based tools and connects them with peers and experienced professionals. Mind Medicine, an adapted version of Y Mind, has been developed specifically for Indigenous young people, and will be implemented in partnership with Indigenous-serving organizations and communities.

This announcement is part of a $100 million investment provided in 2021 Budget to support projects that promote mental health and prevent mental illness in populations disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Burlington added: “Mental health is health, and supporting young people in our communities is a top priority. With leaders like the YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford, we are setting youth up with the essential tools, resources, and support they need to live a healthy life.”

Manny Figueiredo, President & CEO, YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford

Manny Figueiredo, President & CEO, YMCA of Hamilton|Burlington|Brantford explains what the grant has made possible: “Extended periods of isolation during the pandemic created lasting impacts on the mental health and well-being of youth in our communities.

The Y Mind program introduces new early intervention supports for youth with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. We must support youth with the skills and tools they need now for their mental health and we’re grateful to the Public Health Agency of Canada for this important investment which will improve accessibility and help more young people receive the support they need.”