$110,400 OTF Resilient Communities Fund Provides Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Training to Support Youth

May 4, 2023

On Thursday May 4th, local MPP Mike Schreiner met with The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs to hear more about the $110,400 Resilient Communities Fund Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to provide mental health and suicide prevention training at no cost to youth serving organizations in Guelph and Wellington County.      

“We are very grateful for the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott. “The pandemic caused a mental health crisis in our communities, and the Canadian Mental Health Association for Waterloo Wellington responded to provide support for thousands of our residents. As we continue to look forward to a brighter future, CMHA WW will continue to be there to help all of us maintain good mental health.”

Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner added: “As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I would like to extend a sincere congratulations to the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo and Wellington for receiving the Resilient Communities Fund grant. For decades, CMHA has provided Guelph with a multitude of services that are vital to those in need of housing, employment, and mental health support. CMHA has continued to strive for a better community that promotes resiliency and recovery. Thank you CMHA for your continued efforts to support the people living in our community.”

The pandemic shifted the baseline of mental health and addictions needs across our community, particularly those of children and youth. Thanks to the $110,400 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, staff and volunteers will have skills to support youth mental health.

“The impact of this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant cannot be overstated,” said Katrina Burch, Team Lead Mental Health Promotion and Education at CMHA WW. “We know that suicide prevention takes a whole community approach. Over 560 staff and volunteers have been trained in recognizing mental health concerns and becoming suicide alert thanks to this grant from OTF. The trained community members will now be able to intervene early and support youth in receiving the help they need.”

Training has been provided to staff and volunteers of youth service providers in Guelph and Wellington County. The sessions included Mental Health First Aid, safeTALK, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and Compassion Fatigue. The usual cost of these training sessions ranges from $50-$200, this was an incredible opportunity to receive this training at no cost thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.