Sun Life commits over a million to enhance mental health services for at-risk youth across Canada
Ahead of National Child and Youth Mental Health Day, Sun Life has announced its commitment to donate $1,050,000 over three years to support mental health programs for at-risk and marginalized youth in Canada.
This funding will enable two partner organizations to expand mental health services, increase access to care, and promote prevention-based techniques, potentially benefiting approximately 1,300 young Canadians and their families.
Jacques Goulet, President of Sun Life Canada, emphasized the importance of early intervention in mental health. “In Canada, 70 per cent of mental health challenges begin during childhood, disproportionately affecting marginalized youth,” he said.
“As part of our Purpose to help Canadians live healthier lives, we strive to make the biggest positive impact we can, where it matters the most. That's why we are committed to ensuring youth have the tools, support systems, and interventions they need early in life.”
The George Hull Centre for Children and Families will receive $320,000 from Sun Life over two years to expand its Feeling Explorers social emotional learning program.
This program, which targets children in grades one to three, uses Canadian-themed content and characters to develop skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making.
Susan Chamberlain, executive director at the George Hull Centre, stated, “This donation ensures hundreds of young children will become better equipped to manage their feelings, develop important relationship-building skills, and make sense of stressful events.”
Additionally, Sun Life is allocating $730,000 over three years to support Unsinkable’s national mental health program, Unsinkable Youth.
Developed and delivered by youth, this 12-week program focuses on building personal resilience, fostering community connections, and creating a safe space for sharing personal stories.
Hailey Hechtman, executive director at Unsinkable, expressed gratitude for the support.
“Through this generous contribution, we will be able to support more young people on their mental well-being journey through peer-to-peer programming that encourages safe storytelling, builds mental wellness tools, and cultivates a deeper sense of community.”
Sun Life is also actively involved in various initiatives to address mental health challenges broadly across Canada. The company supports Lumino Health Virtual Care, which connects Group Benefits Clients with healthcare professionals for both physical and mental health needs.
Lumino Health provides a free resource for Canadians to find healthcare providers, book appointments, and access the latest health information and resources.
Moreover, the Mental Health Coach program uses licensed healthcare practitioners to guide clients to treatments available through their employer plan and public programs, helping to improve mental health outcomes and reduce the impact of related absences and disability claims.
In recent years, Sun Life Canada has significantly increased its investment in mental health. The company pledged $4.7m in 2023 for youth mental health programming in at-risk or marginalized communities through 11 organizations across Canada.
Additionally, in 2022, Sun Life Québec announced a $1.1m investment to support mental health services for families and marginalized communities through four organizations in Quebec.
In 2021, Sun Life Canada announced a $1m partnership with Kids Help Phone to support the Brighter Days Program, an Indigenous youth mental wellness initiative.
