The Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program is providing $3 million over the next two years to 13 youth-focused community programs. These organizations will use the grants to provide mental health support and services to priority youth populations at a higher risk for youth suicide.
“As part of our youth suicide prevention strategy, these grants will support youth-serving organizations across the province to continue and improve the amazing work they are already doing for kids in their communities.”
“Improving youth mental health is a top priority for our government. By partnering with community organizations, we are ensuring that youth suicide prevention supports are in place across Alberta. This is essential to help children and youth improve their mental health and prevent suicide.”
“We are pleased to have received funding for the Skills for Safer Living program. This program is an effective intervention support and service, serving youth and their families or caregivers. It empowers youth with practical skills to promote their recovery and help them live meaningful lives while equipping caregivers with the knowledge and skills they need to support and enhance the process.”
“The First Nations Health Consortium is honoured to be a grant recipient. We are eager to begin our Life Promotion - Strength in the Journey project and look forward to working with the First Nation youth and their communities in Treaty 6, 7 and 8.”
The successful grant recipients are from regions across the province that work locally to serve and support the mental health of young people, including Indigenous youth. This increased funding will help to address gaps and community needs to provide improved mental health supports and programming.
In 2019, the Government of Alberta launched Building Strength, Inspiring Hope: A Provincial Action Plan for Youth Suicide Prevention 2019-2024. The Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program was created to help advance the outcomes laid out in the action plan and continue the work achieved through the plan over its first two years.
Quick facts
- The Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program funding will be provided to organizations over a two-year period (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024), and ranges from $50,000 to $150,000 per fiscal year.
- These 13 successful applicants will receive the 2022-2024 grants, which are being finalized and will range from about $100,000 to $300,000:
- Camrose Open Door – central region
- Centre for Suicide Prevention – provincial
- Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton – Edmonton region
- First Nations Health Consortium – provincial
- Free Play for Kids – Edmonton region
- Gift Lake Metis Settlement – Gift Lake Metis Settlement
- Lethbridge Family Services – south region
- Miywasin Friendship Centre – Medicine Hat
- Neutral Hills Learning & Community Connection Centre – central region
- Red Deer Native Friendship Society – central region
- St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village Society – Sturgeon County
- University of Calgary – Calgary region
- YMCA of Northern Alberta – north region
- Alberta’s government is already taking steps to help children and youth navigate mental health challenges:
- The Child and Youth Well-being Review examined the impacts of COVID-19 on children and youth and provided recommendations to government to help create a cross-government action plan.
- The government committed $7.3 million over three years to support the expansion of youth mental health hubs.
- Annual funding of $1.25 million was allocated for a 12-week Youth Recovery Program at Hull Services.