Mental Health

COVID Mental Health Initiative (CMHI)

The CMHI initiative supports a variety of community-based service providers to extend the reach of their mental health services in order to serve an increased English-speaking clientele impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This initiative responds to recent studies on the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a 2020 study led by the Université de Sherbrooke illustrates that young adults, Anglophones and health care workers are among the most affected. “In our study, 37% of adults aged 18 to 24 reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in the previous two weeks. It is concerning that a significant portion of young people are not doing well. It is equally striking that Anglophones are twice as likely as Francophones to have anxiety or depressive symptoms,” explained Professor Généreux.

English-speaking communities also express difficulties in accessing mental health services in the English-language as it related to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, a 2021 English-speaking community forum report on Mental Health and COVID-19 reveals that “COVID-19 has exacerbated an already existing mental health crisis…”