As part of a joint effort to address the mental health crisis impacting teenagers, Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand and Sun Life Canada president Jacques Goulet have announced the beneficiaries of the 2nd Mental Health Investment Fund.
The fund was established to provide essential support to more than 7,000 young people in the Quebec City area over the next three years, with Sun Life contributing $75,000 and Quebec City providing $25,000.
It was first announced at the Quebec City Mayor’s Ball in December 2022 and is focused on improving treatment and screening among vulnerable teens and raising awareness about mental health problems.
The recipient organizations are Accès PSY, BienAvecMonCorps, Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Québec, and Youth in Mind Foundation.
In announcing the four organizations set to receive funding over the next three years, Marchand emphasized the importance of taking collective action to address the issues faced by the city’s younger population.
“Psychological distress is the number one factor in school dropout rates, and 50% of mental health problems begin before the age of 14,” the mayor said. “This fund gives organizations the means to act quickly and directly with teens—whether through prevention, awareness, or treatment initiatives—and ultimately change lives.”
Goulet of Sun Life Canada also expressed concern over the mental health crisis among teenagers nationwide, highlighting the need to eliminate stigma and empower teens to prioritize their mental health.
“This fund will help increase awareness, prevention and access to care for thousands of young people in the Capitale-Nationale region,” he added.
Funding for the beneficiary organizations is set to be allocated as follows:
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