Supporting fast and easy access to mental health services for young people

December 6, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

Young people across Canada are struggling with their mental health and it’s crucial that they have timely access to appropriate services and supports in the communities where they live. Long wait times and fragmented delivery of health services can be barriers to care – especially for young people. The Government of Canada is committed to growing and expanding Integrated Youth Services (IYS), so mental health care is more accessible to youth across the country.

Integrated Youth Services is a proven model of care that uses a “one stop shop” approach to connect individuals ages 12 to 25 to a wide variety of health and social services. Delivered through community-based hubs, IYS brings together mental health counselling, primary care, addiction services, sexual health resources, help with education, employment and training opportunities, and more to meet young people where they are at. These services can be accessed in-person or virtually, by dropping-in or making an appointment, free of charge and without needing a referral.
 

Today, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, launched two key initiatives that will help IYS hubs meet the needs of young people:

• The IYS Collaboration Centre will make it easier for provincial, territorial and Indigenous IYS networks to work together and coordinate efforts. Among its activities, the Centre will facilitate information sharing so that all IYS hubs can effectively apply best practices and innovative strategies to support diverse young people. There are approximately 105 IYS hubs across Canada and about 55 more in development.
• The IYS Data Platform will enable researchers, decision makers, service providers and others to access and share timely, accurate and comprehensive data sets with a focus on improving youth mental health and substance use health care across Canada.

Designed with and for young people, community-based care offered through IYS hubs can help reduce barriers to care, lessen the burden on emergency rooms and facilitate early intervention for mental health.

The initiatives announced today are part of coordinated federal actions to create lasting and meaningful improvements in the mental health of youth and their families. This includes the first of its kind $500 million Youth Mental Health Fund, the single largest investment in youth mental health in Canadian history. The Youth Mental Health Fund will help community organizations, including Integrated Youth Services networks and hubs, expand the services they provide to young people and facilitate referrals to broader networks of mental health supports.