PHAC Supporting and Promoting the Mental Health of Those Most Effected by COVID-19 2022-2024 This project enhances the capacity of English-speaking communities and organizations to promote mental health and prevent mental illness in Quebec by building and expanding supports to 46 community health and social service organizations across the province. It has been tailored to support youth, seniors, low-income families, remote and isolated communities and BIPOC communities. “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 is 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 focussed 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. This initiative is financed by Public Health Agency of Canada Supporting and Promoting Mental Health of those most effected by the COVID 19 pandemic Coasters Association Inc. Jeffery Hale Community Partners Seniors Action Quebec YES Employment + Entrepreneurship Eva Marsden Centre for Social Justice and Aging 4Korners Monteregie East Partnership for the English-Speaking Community Assistance and Referral Centre (ARC) REISA AMI-Quebec Action on Mental Illness Literacy Quebec English Community Organization of Lanaudière Townshippers’ Association AGAPE Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders Montérégie West Community Network North Shore Community Association Neighbours Regional Association of Rouyn-Noranda Centre for Access to Services in English Y4Y Quebec Association Connexions Resource Centre African Canadian Development and Prevention Network Vision Gaspé-Percé Now Mental Health Estrie Committee for Anglophone Social Action English Community Organization Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Collective Community Services Leading English Education and Resource Network Heritage Lower Saint Lawrence Megantic English-speaking Community Development Corporation (MCDC)