Have you seen the recent CMHA report showing that over 1.2 million youth in Canada experience mental health concerns? You feel the weight of this every day. The Youth Mental Health Fund in Canada was created to support programs that reach young people sooner, yet the gap still feels huge.
- You see teens in rural Manitoba wait months.
- You see youth in big cities like Toronto or Vancouver struggle to find help they can trust.
- You’re looking for a way to reach them faster, but your team can only cover so much ground.
When mental healthcare is hard to reach, problems grow. Some youth shut down. Some drift from school, while many feel alone. It hurts to watch, and it pushes you to look for better tools to close this gap. You picture a future where support meets youth right where they are. That future feels possible when you understand this funding and how it can support Mobile Counselling Units.
MoveMobility has worked with health teams across Canada for over 20 years. We’ve built more than 150 mobile medical units and supported groups like Liard First Nation. We learn your goals and your community before we build, and also stay mindful that we’re not the only manufacturer, so our aim is to guide you with clarity and without bias.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What the Youth Mental Health Fund offers
- Who is eligible and who can apply
- Conditions of the fund
- If it can support Mobile Counselling and Outreach Units
- How do you apply for the Youth Mental Health Fund?
- Key deadline dates
What does the Youth Mental Health Fund offer?
Many young people struggle to access your clinic due to distance, a lack of transportation, or simply the fear of entering a building. You want to help them, but maybe your budget is tight. The Youth Mental Health Fund in Canada is designed to fix that problem.
This fund is a large investment of $500 million from the federal government. It aims to help community health organizations like yours provide more care to younger Canadians. It focuses on youth aged 12 to 25 who often face barriers to getting help, such as Indigenous youth, racialized youth, and those living in rural or remote areas.
Successful applicants of the Health Canada Youth Mental Health Fund can receive up to $500,000 per year for their projects.
This money can be used for a few key things:
- Hiring staff: You can bring on more counselors or support workers.
- Training: You can teach your team new skills to better support diverse youth.
- Expanding reach: This is the big one for many of you. You can use the funds to bring care directly to where youth are. This includes setting up mobile teams or satellite clinics to reach underserved areas.
Who is eligible for the Youth Mental Health Fund?
The Youth Mental Health Fund supports organizations that help youth ages 12 to 25. Health Canada establishes the rules, and they keep things simple so that funding reaches the right teams.
Who can apply?
- Not-for-profit organizations in Canada
- Public post-secondary schools, which can include school boards and universities
You can find these rules in Health Canada’s applicant guide.
Who cannot apply?
- Municipal, provincial, or territorial governments
- For-profit companies
- Private post-secondary schools
- Individuals
- Federal Crown corporations
- Integrated Youth Services hubs, because they have a separate funding stream
- Groups applying from Quebec, since Quebec manages its own version of this fund
Indigenous communities also have their own funding path through Indigenous Services Canada, which is separate from this one.
Who does the Youth Mental Health Fund focus on helping?
- Indigenous youth
- 2SLGBTQI+ youth
- Black youth
- Newcomer youth
- Youth in rural or remote regions
- Youth facing poverty, discrimination, or housing barriers
These are the young people who often have the toughest time getting care. The fund aims to close that gap so they can connect with support faster and with less stress.
What are the conditions of the Youth Mental Health Fund?
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of applying for funding, but these conditions are actually just guiding principles. They make sure the Youth Mental Health Fund in Canada money goes toward innovative projects that really work and close the gap for youth. The federal government, through Health Canada and other departments, wants to see you succeed long-term.
Think of these conditions as the recipe for a successful project:
- You must involve the youth: This is a big one. The fund wants to stop creating programs for young people without talking to them first. You need to show how the youth themselves, the ones who need the help, will be involved in your project.
- Prove the need with data: You must provide clear evidence that your community actually needs the program. This is not about guessing. You need to show real numbers, like long wait times for mental health services or data about the number of young people in your area who are struggling. This proves that your project is truly urgent and important.
- Show your plan to measure success: The government wants to see that their investment is removing barriers and saving lives. You must include a solid plan to measure the impact of your project. How will you track whether your Mobile Outreach Unit is making things better? You need to show how many young people you expect to reach and how you will track their improved outcomes.
- Work with others: Your project should not be an island. The fund encourages building partnerships within your community. By working with other organizations, you strengthen the entire local mental health system and make access easier for youth.
These conditions ensure that projects receiving the Youth Mental Health Fund are well-planned, driven by the needs of young Canadians, and set up for long-term impact.
Can the Youth Mental Health Fund be used for Mobile Counselling and Outreach Units?
Yes, the Youth Mental Health Fund can support Mobile Counselling and Outreach Units, but there are some important points to keep in mind. These mobile units, like vans or buses, can help you reach youth in remote areas, small towns, or communities where services are hard to access. They help close the gap between youth who need care and the care itself.
How funding can be used for mobile units:
- Paying for the purchase or lease of a vehicle used for mental health services
- Outfitting the vehicle with the necessary equipment for counselling, peer support, or group programs
- Covering operational costs, like fuel, travel, and staffing, to run outreach programs
Important conditions:
- You must have a clear plan for how the mobile unit will operate and reach youth effectively
- Maintenance and safety plans need to be in place for the vehicle
- Funding cannot be used for unrelated purposes, like general transportation or private use
Using a Mobile Counselling or Outreach Unit can make a huge difference. It lets your team meet youth where they are, whether that’s in a rural Manitoba town, a remote Northern community, or neighbourhoods in cities like Calgary or Halifax where traditional services are hard to reach. Mobile units bring care directly to youth, removing barriers and helping them access support faster.
How do you apply for the Youth Mental Health Fund?
Applying for the Youth Mental Health Fund is a step-by-step process. The goal is to make sure your project reaches the youth who need it, whether that’s through counselling, outreach programs, or even educational sessions.
Step 1: Double-check eligibility
Make sure your organization can apply. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit groups and public post-secondary institutions. Your program must serve youth aged 12 to 25 and ideally focus on equity-deserving populations.
Step 2: Read the applicant guide
The official guide explains everything, including priorities, rules, and forms. You can download the application package here: Youth Mental Health Fund Applicant Guide.
Step 3: Follow up
If approved, you will receive instructions on agreements, reporting, and funding distribution. Tracking outcomes is required, so plan ahead for data collection.
Following these steps carefully increases your chances of getting funding to expand your reach and support more youth with mental health needs.
Youth Mental Health Fund dates to know
The first major nationwide call for proposals for the Youth Mental Health Fund closed on January 22, 2025.
The fact that the initial window has closed should be seen as a cue to start preparing for the next one. This fund is not a one-time event. It’s a massive government investment that runs until March 2029. This means future opportunities will come up as the Health Canada youth mental health fund continues to roll out its five-year plan.
Key dates for the future
Because the program is so large, the funding is broken up into different streams.
The best way to be ready is to monitor a few key areas:
- Funding source: Keep a close eye on the official Canada.ca funding page for the Youth Mental Health Fund. They will post the most accurate information on new calls for proposals.
- The project end date: Remember that the first round of approved projects runs until March 31, 2029. Any new calls will fit within this larger timeline.
- Complementary streams: Future funding for Indigenous-specific mental wellness supports will be administered through Indigenous Services Canada. If you are an Indigenous organization, monitor their channels closely for opportunities tailored to your needs.
Think of the time between now and the next announcement as your competitive advantage. You can use this time to strategize your Mobile Counselling Unit design, build partnerships with local youth groups, and gather the community data that will make your next proposal stand out. You will be ready to go the moment the application window opens.
Got any questions about the Youth Mental Health Fund?
You came here because you felt blocked from reaching vulnerable youth and knew funding was a big part of closing that gap. After reading this, you know the path forward: the Youth Mental Health Fund covers Mobile Counselling Units, and you are prepared for the next application round.
We’ve been the established leaders in designing mobile healthcare solutions for over two decades. Our experience is the competitive edge that empowers us to adapt to complex challenges, like delivering innovative vehicles that overcome barriers to mental health care in Canada’s remote regions.
We design custom mobile solutions that remove barriers and maintain dignity. We champion innovation, and we want to help you win the fight against access barriers. If you’re ready to explore turning your funding vision into a life-saving vehicle, click the button below to talk to a mobility expert.
If you are not ready to talk to a mobility expert yet, we have a few other resources you should check out to learn more:
- What is a Mobile Counselling Van? This breaks down the specific vehicle solution the fund can cover.
- Mobile mental health clinics: Everything you need to know: This provides a deep dive into the entire industry to validate your decision.
- How does a mobile crisis unit help people during mental health crises? This explores the life-saving impact and clinical uses of this specific unit.
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