Canadian Government Boosts Mental Health Support for Afghan and Ukrainian Youth
From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Government Initiative to Enhance Mental Health Services
The Canadian Government is taking significant steps to support newcomers facing the aftermath of conflict by enhancing access to essential mental health services. Since 1989, Kids Help Phone has been a lifeline for young Canadians, offering free, around-the-clock, confidential mental health support.
June 20, 2022—Toronto, Ontario—In observance of World Refugee Day, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a new partnership with Kids Help Phone. This collaboration focuses on providing counselling services in languages including Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, and Russian, addressing the needs of Afghan and Ukrainian youth affected by conflict. Minister Fraser witnessed firsthand the positive impact of government funding during his visit to the Kids Help Phone office in Toronto.
Expanding Mental Health Services Across Canada
This initiative is part of a broader $2 million agreement aimed at extending Kids Help Phone’s professional counselling services to cover 100 languages by 2025. This expansion builds on the successful introduction of Arabic and Mandarin services in 2019.
Currently, over 500 service provider organizations, funded by IRCC, deliver settlement services to newcomers, including resettled refugees and Ukrainians arriving under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. These services include:
- Assistance during and after school hours
- Recreational activities
- Leadership and mentorship programs
- Skill development and employment preparation
IRCC collaborates closely with provinces, territories, and service provider organizations nationwide to facilitate newcomers’ adjustment to Canadian life.
Quotes from Key Figures
“Canada has a proud tradition of welcoming and supporting the world’s most vulnerable. In order to adjust to life in Canada, we need to ensure that newcomers have access to resources to cope with past trauma and rebuild their lives. Creating this culturally sensitive, accessible safe space is especially important when it comes to vulnerable youth, and this funding will ensure that those fleeing conflict—including Afghans and Ukrainians—have the support they need to reach their full potential while in Canada.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“Kids Help Phone has been providing a safe space for young people dealing with mental health and addictions issues in Canada since 1989. Today’s funding will help them continue that tradition by providing young newcomers with access to culturally appropriate and trauma informed mental health supports in their own language, an invaluable asset to youth who have already been through so much.”
– The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
“To make e-mental health support more accessible through language for any young person across Canada is an important step in ensuring equitable access for those who may be most vulnerable. We appreciate the support and the vision of IRCC to enable the expansion of Kids Help Phone’s language offerings to meet a critical need today, with a view of further expansion of more languages in the coming months.”
– Katherine Hay, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone
Quick Facts
- Kids Help Phone has been supporting Canadian youth since 1989.
- IRCC is investing $1,966,143 to expand Kids Help Phone’s multilingual services over three years.
- Ukrainians entering Canada temporarily under emergency travel measures have access to settlement services usually reserved for permanent residents.
- The Canadian Government is committed to resettling at least 40,000 Afghan nationals swiftly and safely. To date, over 16,000 Afghan refugees have found a new home in Canada.
Associated Links
- Ministerial statement – Recognizing the strength and resilience of refugees
- Immigration measures for people affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Call to action: Canadian Industry for Ukraine
- Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan
Contact Information
Aidan Strickland
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
aidan.strickland@cic.gc.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
IRCC.COMMMediaRelations-RelationsmediasCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of the Kids Help Phone expansion?
The expansion aims to provide culturally sensitive mental health support to young newcomers in their native languages.
How many languages does Kids Help Phone aim to cover by 2025?
The goal is to expand the service to 100 languages, enhancing accessibility for diverse youth populations.
Who can access these expanded services?
Services are available to Afghan and Ukrainian newcomers, as well as other vulnerable youth in Canada.
What other support is available for newcomers?
Newcomers can access assistance in education, recreation, leadership, mentorship, and employment preparation.
How can Canadians help with the current situation?
Canadians can contribute to efforts through various initiatives outlined in the government’s action plans for Ukraine and Afghanistan.
