Support for organizations providing mental health services to English-speaking Quebecers

This call for proposals addresses the different situations in regions where English-speaking Quebecers (ESQs) may not have the same access to mental health services in their own language compared to their French-speaking neighbours. In some cases, it may be necessary to consolidate existing English-language services.

While accessibility programs for English-language health and social services do exist, those services are not available consistently in all of Québec’s health care facilities; many are only offered partially or sporadically. This speaks to the need for ESQ community organizations to offer targeted mental health services for different groups (youth, seniors, men, women, non-binary people, people with addictions, etc.), potentially as a complement to existing services where appropriate.

This call for proposals is addressed to non-profit organizations (NPOs) in the mental health field looking to:

• Collaborate with other NPOs that offer mental health services to ESQs in order to develop or maintain services, discuss common issues, and find solutions to address those issues.
• Develop or improve mental health services for English-speaking populations, including the most vulnerable.
• Where appropriate, collaborate with local health and social services institutions such as integrated health and social service centres (CISSS) or integrated university health and social service centres (CIUSSS) or their facilities in order to expand access to mental health care and services for ESQs, for example by sharing best practices for promoting mental health.

Projects must contribute to the following objectives of the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise (SRQEA) Support Program for Organizations Serving the English-Speaking Communities:

1. Increase organizations’, institutions’, and partnership networks’ ability to offer services to Québec’s English-speaking communities.
2. Broaden access to public services for ESQs.

Working with the Community Health and Social Services Network, the SRQEA will support specific activities within proposed projects that will contribute to some or all of the call for proposals objectives.

For this call for proposals, NPOs must:

• Demonstrate that they have developed expertise related to one of the first three objectives, as well as in mental health;
• Describe how they intend to draw directly on the objectives for the project and each of its activities;
• Describe how achieving those objectives will contribute to the fourth and/or fifth objectives.

They must also demonstrate their ability to network with other organizations through concrete activities in which they have participated or contributed over at least the last two years. This could include participating in mental health events or collaborating with other community organizations on a project related to mental health.

Finally, in addition to having NPO status, they must also meet the following seven other criteria for community action:

• Be community-based;
• Be associative and democratic;
• Be free to determine their missions, orientations, approaches, and practices;
• Have been created through a community initiative;
• Pursue a social mission that promotes social change and that is specific to the organization;
• Use active citizenship practices and broad-based approaches rooted in a comprehensive view of the issues at stake;
• Have a board of directors independent from the public network.

NPOs must be able to offer mental health information and support for ESQs, either in person or virtually (online).

Subject to budget availability for each year of the call for proposals, financial assistance will be provided under the following conditions depending on the NPO’s reach (local, regional, or national).

Local

Local municipalities, regional county municipalities (RCMs), territories equivalent to an RCM, and local service networks (one CISSS/CIUSSS)

Maximum amount: $55,000

Regional

Two or more RCMs (or one isolated/remote RCM), regional service networks (two or more CISSS/CIUSSS)

Maximum amount: $70,000

National

All of Québec, or at least two administrative regions

Maximum amount: $120,000

Financial assistance agreements may have a term of up to three years from their effective date, i.e., from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029.

A total of $1.5 million in financial support was provided to the organizations below.

Organization

Centre de prévention du suicide du Témiscamingue

Project description

This project aims to expand the range of services available for the prevention of psychological distress. Particular attention is given to the most vulnerable populations, including:

• English-speaking individuals who have limited access to services in their own language;
• individuals living in situations of geographic or social isolation;
• individuals facing multiple vulnerability factors (mental health challenges, poverty, addiction, etc.).

Administrative region

Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Fraser Recovery Program

Project description

This project aims to offer integrated mental health services for vulnerable English-speaking youth in the Capitale-Nationale region, specifically those aged 12 to 25 who are at risk due to psychoactive substance use, associated mental health issues, or screen addiction.

Administrative region

Capitale-Nationale

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Mental Health Estrie

Project description

This project aims to support English speakers and their loved ones in the Estrie region who are affected by mental illness or mental health challenges.

Administrative region

Estrie

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Avante Women’s Centre

Project description

This project aims to support isolated older women with mental health issues; mothers dealing with stress, burnout, or socioeconomic challenges; and girls and young women aged 14 to 25 struggling with identity, mental health, education, or the transition to adulthood.

Administrative region

Estrie

Annual amount

$13,600

Organization

Association Lavalloise de Parents et Amis pour le Bien-Être Mental (ALPABEM)

Project description

The Wellness Hub project is primarily intended for English-speaking residents of Quebec living in Laval, including:

• adults experiencing psychological distress;
• caregivers supporting individuals living with mental health disorders;
• young adults and families facing mental health challenges.

Administrative region

Laval

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Centre of Dreams and Hopes

Project description

This project aims to support neurodivergent people at every stage of their lives: childhood (ages 5–12), youth (ages 13–17), young adulthood (ages 18–35), and adulthood (ages 35+).

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Head & Hands

Project description

This project aims to further access to mental health counselling and educate marginalized English-speaking youth about trauma. In particular, it is destined for youth (ages 12–17), young adults (ages 18–34), visible and cultural/ethnic minorities, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

On Our Own

Project description

This project aims to provide mental health support for young parents (aged 16 to 30) navigating a complex set of vulnerabilities.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre

Project description

This project will allow the centre to provide a family support worker for families experiencing anxiety, parental stress, isolation, relationship struggles, crises, or barriers to accessing services, as well as those who need support for their child’s development.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

West Island Women’s Centre

Project description

This project involves providing support groups for low-income women and single mothers, women experiencing social isolation, and adult and senior women in transition.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$18,544

Organization

Friends for Mental Health

Project description

This project involves providing psychosocial services in English for the greater Montréal area, as well as outreach activities for young people.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Community Perspective in Mental Health

Project description

This project involves providing a psychosocial support worker for seniors, young adults, and members of the LGBTQIA2S community.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Black Healing Centre

Project description

This project provides outreach care for English-speaking Black communities experiencing vulnerabilities related to social isolation, financial precarity, discrimination, or mistrust in institutions, which can present obstacles to accessing formal services.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Chabad Lifeline

Project description

This project provides rapid access to support for English-speaking people and families (adults, youth, parents, spouses, friends and family) experiencing challenges related to substance or behavioural addiction.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors

Project description

This project provides support to 100 English-speaking caregivers of seniors with dementia who need respite services to maintain their own mental health.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$55,000

Organization

Our Harbour

Project description

This project provides a long-term housing program for adults aged 35–64 living with mental illness.

Administrative region

Montérégie

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Seniors Respite Montérégie

Project description

This project aims to strengthen virtual mental health support for English-speaking seniors and caregivers in Montérégie and the South Shore. More specifically, it supports English-speaking caregivers of seniors living with cognitive decline, including memory loss and early-stage dementia.

Administrative region

Montérégie

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Connexions Resource Centre

Project description

This project aims to strengthen community well-being in the Outaouais region. It supports English-speaking Quebecers in vulnerable situations, including young adults, seniors, caregivers, families, neurodivergent people, and people dealing with grief or major life transitions.

Administrative region

Outaouais

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

AMI-Québec

Project description

This project aims to support caregivers affected by mental health issues and their loved ones’ mental illnesses.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$70,000

Organization

Project 10

Project description

This project aims to support English-speaking 2SLGBTQIA+ youth across Québec.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$120,000

Organization

Vent Over Tea

Project description

This project aims to support youth aged 14+ who are going through transitions (starting CEGEP, major life changes, etc.), as well as isolated seniors. It also offers support to adults aged 25 to 64 who require immediate low-barrier support, but whose needs are not covered by the specific mandates of other organizations. This non-clinical approach effectively reaches groups that are traditionally distanced from the healthcare network, including men and non-binary people.

Administrative region

Montréal

Annual amount

$120,000

Organization

Community Health & Social Services Network (CHSSN)

Project description

This project will allow the CHSSN to support the SRQEA in managing all of the selected projects. More specifically, the CHSSN will:

• Coordinate province-wide efforts to improve access to mental health support services for English-speaking communities;
• Provide targeted professional support to organizations, promote peer-to-peer learning, and share evidence-based practices to strengthen the capacity of the funded mental health organizations;
• Organize gatherings of funded organizations, government representatives, and other key partners to facilitate collaboration, strategic dialogue, and knowledge-sharing across the entire sector;
• Implement the evaluation of funded projects, using comprehensive methodologies to measure results, identify best practices, and support continuous improvement.

Administrative region

Capitale-Nationale

Annual amount

$150,000