Tuesday April 9th 2024, Ottawa - Today, the Government of Canada announced a $500 million investment over four years in youth mental health. This fulfills a priority set by the government to support mental health for post-secondary students made in the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions mandate letter. CASA praises this announcement, which will reinforce the frontline of mental health care for students as well as young graduates both on and off campus at a critical time of change.
As evidenced by CASA’s 2024 report Moving Mountains, 1 in 3 students reported their mental health as “poor” or “very poor.” This was a clear communication of a problem, which as of today the federal government is taking action to solve.
The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, shared the importance of addressing mental health supports “before they worsen or become chronic”, and the Honourable Marci Ien stated the importance of resolving 3 or 6 month wait times for mental health supports. These statements echo the concerns and stories communicated to decision makers by students during CASA’s Advocacy Week last November.
CASA Chair Sadie McAlear emphasized the transformative potential of this investment. “When I speak to students across Canada about the struggles they face in their day to day lives, lack of adequate mental health support is an extremely common denominator. It’s a pervasive, dangerous problem on Canadian post-secondary campuses, and this funding will mean better access for hundreds of thousands of students across Canada. CASA thanks the government for listening to student voices on mental health.”
CASA will continue to communicate to the federal government to ensure that implementation of this program incorporates student concerns, and looks forward to further cooperation on issues of concern to youth and students.
About CASA
Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 25 student associations across the country. Through our partnership with the Quebec Student Union/Union étudiante du Québec, CASA represents 365,000 post-secondary students across Canada.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Max Greer
Communications and Creative Content Officer
(289)-214-8608
