Supporting and Promoting the Mental Health of Those Most Effected by COVID-19 (SPMH) Program

Promising Practices in Community-based Mental Health Promotion

The Promising Practices in Community-based Mental Health Promotion was part of the Supporting and Promoting the Mental Health of English-Speaking Communities in Quebec initiative (2022-2024).
It was created for community organizations and other stakeholders to:

Highlight effective community interventions to promote mental health and prevent mental illness.
Showcase the work that has been and continues to be achieved by the organizations funded through this initiative.
Act as an informational tool and/or starting point for communication purposes and partnership development.
Facilitate the replication of successful initiatives in their own settings.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated mental health challenges for many Canadians, communities that already faced challenges due to discrimination, racism, and social exclusion have been hit especially hard. Today’s announcement will help promote positive mental health among these equity-deserving communities and assist them in developing the skills and strategies they need to maintain their well-being now, and into the future.” On March 2, 2023

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and Associate Minister of Health

“Research is starting to show that the pandemic has hit the English-speaking community in Quebec very hard. Not only has the prevalence of anxiety and depression increased in our community, but the access to English-language services has not been able to keep up with the demand. It was already hard to get access before the pandemic. This investment into community organizations to promote mental health and prevent mental illness is an important strategy for helping English speakers learn how to help themselves and to connect them to the services that are available when needed.”

Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director Community Health and Social Services Network

Quick Facts

This funding was part of a $100 million federal government investment provided in Budget 2021 to support projects that promote mental health and prevent mental illness in populations disproportionately effected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental health promotion and mental illness prevention are critical components for well-being and can help reduce demands on the health care system. Community-based projects focused on mental health promotion have the potential to improve health outcomes over the life course.
Renison University College, at the University of Waterloo, is hosting a Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub (KDE Hub) for Mental Health Promotion to support the projects funded through this investment, helping to build a community with shared interests in optimizing mental health promotion and mental illness prevention across Canada.

Mental Health of Quebecers

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Québec Division infographics aim to sensitize Quebecers to populations that have particular mental health challenges and realities.