$3 million awarded to support mental health programming for underserved Canadians

The Weston Family Foundation is pleased to support the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) with a $3-million donation to fund mental health programming for underserved Canadians.

This grant — a part of the Foundation’s COVID-19 recovery funding — will be used to expand access to BounceBack, a free, guided mental health self-help program. The expansion includes the development of partnerships with key organizations, such as youth-serving agencies and organizations serving vulnerable communities. The funding will also extend the program for three years and help it better meet the specific needs of youth and underserved groups, especially Indigenous peoples, Black people, people of colour and people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.

According to CMHA research, COVID-19 has had a negative impact on Canadians’ mental health — in a December 2020 survey, 40 percent of respondents said their mental health had deteriorated since the onset of the pandemic. BounceBack helps participants better manage their mental health and reduces symptoms by 50 percent after completion. The program lasts three to six months and requires no travel, so participants can access it from anywhere.

Please see the full press release for more details.