Alberta invests $3M into suicide prevention support for youth

Alberta is investing $3 million over the next two years to help prevent youth suicide, with a special focus on high-risk groups like Indigenous youth.

The funds will support community, non-profit organizations to expand and develop new mental health and suicide prevention resources for young people.

It’s part of the province’s Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program.

The money will be given out over a two-year period ending June 2024. Each organization is expected to receive up to $150,000 per year.

Read More:

• Alberta aims to make mental health supports more affordable

• Mental-health issues among Alberta seniors on the rise since pandemic: advocate

• Alberta invests $1.6M towards ‘HealthIM’ digital tool for mental-health related police calls

“Improving youth mental health is a top priority for our government,” said Mike Ellis, the associate minister of mental health and addictions. “By partnering with community organizations, we are ensuring that youth suicide prevention supports are in place across Alberta.”

The new funding comes two years after the Alberta government launched “Building Strength, Inspiring Hope,” the province’s five-year action plan for youth suicide prevention from 2019 to 2024.

“We are pleased to have received funding for the Skills for Safer Living program. This program is 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,” said Mara Grunau the executive director of the Centre for Suicide Prevention.

Other government programs include the Child and Youth Wellbeing Review, which reviews the impact COVID-19 has had on children and youth, the expansion of youth mental health hubs, and a youth recovery program.

–With files from Adeline Gladu