Canada is putting up nearly $3 million to support 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health.

The Federal Government made the announcement as part of the kickoff to Mental Health Week.

Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced $2.8 million in funding to the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC).

CBRC is developing and mobilizing 2SLGBTQIA+ mental health resources to increase the knowledge and capacity of 11,000 stakeholders, including healthcare providers and policymakers, to design and deliver culturally competent and safe care for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations.

Pride YMM says this investment is a positive step in making mental healthcare inclusive and accessible.

They say queer people experience barriers to accessing mental healthcare due to both social isolation and deep-rooted stigma within the medical and mental health field.

Pride YMM says this is a great step in the right direction for Canada, but they fear it will take a long time for the benefits to trickle down to the direct support our community currently needs.