Quebec to Expand Youth Mental Health Services with $70.8M Federal Funding
Quebec is set to enhance its youth mental health services with a $70.8 million injection from the Youth Mental Health Fund over the next five years. The funding will support the establishment of four additional “Aire ouverte” centers and a mobile unit.
Currently, Quebec boasts 48 “Aire ouverte” sites catering to young individuals aged 12 to 25. These centers provide a range of services, including sexual health, mental health, and addiction support, all free of charge and available with or without appointments. Managed by young people, these centers have youth committees that determine health priorities and desired service offerings.
The recent agreement between Quebec and Ottawa was unveiled at the Aire ouverte Montréal-Nord-Lacordaire location by Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Quebec’s minister overseeing social services, Lionel Carmant.
Carmant expressed enthusiasm about the success of the model across Quebec and emphasized the need for expansion. He outlined plans to establish one Aire ouverte per local service network, aiming for a total of 90 centers throughout Quebec. The additional federal funding is expected to facilitate this expansion, with the goal of nearing the target in the coming years.
In the immediate future, Quebec plans to introduce four new Aire ouverte locations: a permanent site in Longueuil, another in Trois-Rivières, and two satellite sites in Argenteuil and Sainte-Thérèse, along with a mobile unit in Huntington, located in the Montérégie region.
Carmant also highlighted the potential use of federal funds in addressing caregiving challenges among youth and supporting the Épanouir Project, which focuses on mental health promotion and prevention in educational settings.
Launched in November 2024, the Youth Mental Health Fund has allocated a $500 million budget over five years to bolster community initiatives nationwide, enhancing young people’s access to mental health services.
Michel pointed out the presence of 120 similar centers in nine provinces, with an additional 50 currently in progress.
