$3 Million Pledged to Youth Mental Health and Addictions Programs.

Manitoba Post StaffNews

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Government has pledged just under $3 million to improve youth mental health and addictions programs.

The announcement was made today at the NorWest Co-op Community Health Centre by Health, Seniors and Active Living Minister Cameron Friesen, Education and Training Minister Kelvin Goertzen, and Families Minister Heather Stefanson.

The ministers announced enhanced and expanded mental health and addictions programming for youth with three new initiatives today. The investments, which total $2.94 million over three years, include:

  • $823,000 to the NorWest Youth Hub, to increase mental health and addictions counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, primary health care, as well as recreation and training opportunities for youth aged 14 to 24;
  • $621,000 to Project 11, which provides virtual and in-person lessons and activities designed to improve mental health awareness and positive coping strategies for students in kindergarten to Grade 8; and
  • $1.5 million to expand the distribution of Thrival Kits to grades 4 to 6 students across the province.

    • All three initiatives meet various recommendations made in the VIRGO report, the most comprehensive assessment of mental health and addictions services in the province’s history. Almost one in four Manitobans aged 10 and older has a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder, while 75 per cent of mental illness onsets occur before the age of 24.