The importance of mental health cannot be overstated. It is a cornerstone of a thriving society. Today, our young people face unprecedented challenges — from navigating social pressures to managing the impacts of digital environments and, for many, the lingering effects of the global pandemic.
Supporting mental health isn’t just about providing services; it’s about creating a culture where asking for help is encouraged, where struggles are met with understanding, and where every person feels seen, heard, and valued.
I am delighted to share a message from the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, regarding mental health in Canada:
“As the mom of two teenage girls and Canada’s minister of mental health, I am keenly aware like many parents, that young people are feeling immense anxiety about the future. Faced with a world grappling with war and conflict, disrupting technology and the existential threat of climate change, not to mention a rising cost of living that is causing people real financial stress, our kids feel the impacts daily.
We often are asking ourselves “Are the kids going to be alright?”. Instinctually and because of stigma in talking about mental health we tend to hide and shield our young people from this question and the conversation.
At a recent gathering of youth mental health advocates through YouthSpeak, we were able to hear the answer – they will be alright – if we make sure that we are asking them, not only ourselves that question, and making sure that the are part of the conversation on what they need and offering actionable programs and solutions.”
Our kids not only want to be seen and heard – they want us to listen.
In a noisy world that can be overwhelming, they are asking for safe spaces to have these hard conversations. Instead of struggling with anxiety, depression and addiction alone, young people are asking for the tools and resources needed to move beyond coping, that build resilience and allow them to thrive, be comfortable with who they are and what they strive for.
We have seen incredible generational change in how we talk about mental health and our young people are leading the way. They are striving for authenticity and a place to meet in the middle with parents and peers. Confronted with a world where social media and expectations to be “perfect” are rising, young people are asking us to embrace them as who they are, where expressing one’s emotions isn’t weak, but a starting point. They are asking us not to avoid theirs (and let’s be honest our) emotions to “tough it out”, instead to give them safe persons and spaces where being vulnerable is a launch pad for healing and becoming whole.
While metal health has increasingly become the talk around kitchen tables throughout the country, a plan where we design a mental system for youth designed by them and truly listening to them is well underway in communities large and small across Canada. We know that approximately 50% of mental health disorders start by the mid-teen years, and 75% start by the mid-20s. It’s so important that when a young person takes the crucial first step of asking for help, they are met with accessible and effective support, not barriers or delays.
The Integrated Youth Service system has been growing for nearly a decade offering young people local, accessible and barrier free mental health and primary care services from coast to coast. This growing network of hubs from the Foundry in BC to YWHO in Ontario, Kickstand in Alberta to Huddle in Manitoba. As a federal government we have been partnering to build the IYS for our kids today, knowing that their mental health and well being is the right investment in their future.
Thanks to the 2024 federal budget, the government is creating a first-of-its-kind Youth Mental Health Fund. At $500M it is the single largest investment in youth mental health and geared towards helping community health organizations provide more care options for youth that are free and accessible.
The goal is to reach young people where they are, not just providing care in a hospital or doctor’s office setting, but broadening our mental health support network into neighbourhoods, schools, arenas, and online.
When we treat the mental health of our youth just as seriously as we do their physical health, when we prioritize it, we can make sure the next generation is set up for success.
I know we cannot always control the hardships our kids face, but when we are determined to help all young people navigate these times with compassion and support we are truly listening to what they want – wellness and well being. That is a goal we can all get behind.
I see the Youth Mental Health Fund as our opportunity to meet the moment – to validate the experiences our younger Canadians are having and say clearly that mental health matters. We can’t risk losing the opportunity we have to invest in them.
The kids will be alright, because we are listening.”
