The Cor Van Raay YMCA in Lethbridge will offer the new Y Mind youth mental health program after receiving funding from the federal government. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

YMCA of Lethbridge receives funding for youth mental health program

Jan 10, 2023 | 1:39 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The federal government has committed millions of dollars in funding to bolster mental health programming for youths.

YMCA Canada is set to receive a total of $6.9 million nationwide, which includes $175,000 for the YMCA of Lethbridge.

The Cor Van Raay YMCA in Lethbridge will use its allocation to deliver the Y Mind program for the next 18 months. It is aimed at youths experiencing stress and anxiety.

According to a media release from the YMCA, Y Mind is an “innovative, youth-informed, early intervention program that helps teens and young adults manage stress and anxiety. Helping young people cope with anxiety and improve their sense of well-being, Y Mind introduces them to evidence-based tools and connects them with peers and experienced professionals.”

YMCA of Lethbridge Director of Community Programs Kristina Larkin says mental health concerns like stress and anxiety are among the top concerns of youth today.

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“We are grateful for the generous support from the Public Health Agency of Canada and look forward to working alongside YMCAs across the country, and our community partners to help even more young people access critical mental health support services,” says Larkin.

YMCA Canada President and CEO Peter Dinsdale adds that the organization is working to expand this program across the county.

Federal Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett says it is essential that resources be increased and the barriers removed to youth mental health supports, especially for those in underserved communities who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today’s funding to the YMCA will help young people across Canada know that it’s okay to not be okay, and that through these evidence-based, youth-informed programs, more supports will be available,” says Bennett.

More details on the Y Mind program are on the Lethbridge YMCA website.

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