MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 25,
2024 /CNW/ - The mental health challenges facing
young people in Canada have grown
more complex in recent years, whether it is from problems at home,
online, or at school. Their emotional and mental health needs
require accessible, timely, and compassionate support. Every child
deserves the best start in life, which is why the Government is
making targeted investments to build a Canada that is more fair for everyone, by
ensuring mental health resources are available for any young
Canadian that needs them.
Today, the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity,
Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities and the Honourable Marci
Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, highlighted
funding in Budget 2024 of $7.5
million over three years to support Kids Help Phone (KHP) in
its work providing mental health, counselling, and crisis support
to young people.
Federal funding will be used by KHP to sustain their core model
of care services, including:
- Continue and broaden service delivery: KHP will continue
to provide 24/7 access to bilingual mental health supports via
voice and text, online counselling and crisis support for youth
across Canada. This will include
ongoing monitoring of service delivery; recruiting, training and
retaining volunteers and counselors; developing technology that
meets the need of frontline staff and supports the scaling up of
services; and implementing AI-driven prototypes to automate
administrate tasks.
- Amplify reach of service through ongoing and expanded
outreach communications: KHP will provide 24/7 access to
clinically validated content on their website and social media
channels, while reaching specific populations of equity-deserving
youth, e.g., Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and newcomers.
- Support for KHP employees and volunteers: KHP will
provide ongoing professional development and training opportunities
for staff and volunteers, review and maintain current resources for
clinical accuracy, and will develop and maintain a robust support
and self-care program for all staff and service volunteers.
- Collect, analyze and communicate on data: KHP will
utilize existing data collection and analysis strategies and
processes to begin and maintain collection, analysis and
reporting.
The Ministers highlighted this investment during a visit to the
Mississauga location of Achēv, a
charitable organization that is one of the largest providers of
employment, newcomer, language, youth, women and inclusion services
in the Greater Toronto Area.
Quotes
"The 7.5 million dollars we're
putting forward to support Kids Help Phone will help make life
fairer for younger Canadians by ensuring they have access to mental
health supports when and where they need them. By asking the very
wealthiest to pay their fair share we are making sure that all
Canadians can access the supports and services they need."
The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and
Persons with Disabilities
"Young people face countless challenges that take a toll on
their mental health. Uncertainty can lead to isolation, and
barriers to support can make things even harder. That's why we're
committed to eliminating these barriers and ensuring help is always
available. By supporting organizations like Kids Help Phone, we're
making sure young Canadians have access to tools and support
systems they need to succeed. Together, we're paving the way for a
generation that thrives."
The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality
and Youth
Quick Facts
- Launched in 1989, KHP is Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service
offering free, confidential support to young people in English and
French, and 100 other languages.
- Depending where someone calls from, they can be connected with
Kids Help Phone through the 9-8-8 service, or by calling
1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868 from anywhere in
Canada, at any time.
- KHP has professional counsellors and volunteer responders
trained to address young people's continuum of emotional and mental
health needs, from crisis situations to the everyday concerns.
- According to data collected by KHP, from January 2020 to December
31, 2023, young people have interacted with the service more
than 19 million times. This represents a 144% increase in 2023
compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- KHP also reports that the issues young people reach out about
are more complex than ever before and are compounding over time.
The top five issues are: anxiety and stress; relationships;
depression; suicide; and isolation.
- The Public Health Agency of Canada will be entering into a contribution
agreement with KHP, with funding expected to start flowing to the
organization in November 2024.
Associated Links
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Kids Help Phone
- Get Help | 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline (988.ca)
- Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada