Enhance local community support for young Black Canadians at risk and advance research on more culturally appropriate mental health support programs for the Black community.

What success looks like

Enhanced support for at-risk Black Canadian youth and more culturally appropriate mental health programs supported by research.

Government's narrative on progress

Budget 2018 earmarked $10 million for the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to promote mental health for youth at risk and to develop research in support of more culturally focused mental health programs in the Black Canadian community. In summer 2018, consultations were undertaken with a number of Black community organizations, researchers, and leaders on promising approaches for improving the mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians. On September 25, 2018, PHAC launched Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians, a new funding initiative that aims to strengthen culturally informed approaches to improving mental health for Black youth and their families and communities. Budget 2018 provided Canadian Heritage with $9 million over three years to provide Black Canadian youth with greater community supports, education and training, and opportunities to engage on issues of racism and discrimination. As the approach is currently being developed, various key activities have already taken place. This includes holding engagement sessions with Black Canadian youth in five cities across Canada and a discussion in collaboration with PHAC with research experts to identify data gaps with the aim of better understanding the barriers faced by Black Canadian youth, including mental health inequalities.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.