Promoting Youth Mental Health Innovation: A Call to Action by Being Initiative

In an age where mental health challenges among youth are increasingly recognized as critical issues, the Being Initiative steps forward with a transformative opportunity aimed at addressing these challenges head-on. Through their latest call for proposals, Being seeks to empower organizations with innovative ideas for promoting and preventing mental health issues among underserved youth aged 10 to 24 years. This initiative represents a vital effort to improve mental health outcomes through early intervention and systemic change.

Overview of the Being Initiative's Call for Proposals

The Being Initiative, supported by Grand Challenges Canada and various global partners, focuses on funding ideas that prevent and promote mental health among youth. This call is particularly aimed at supporting the early drivers of mental health and well-being in 12 priority countries. These countries have been identified based on their unique needs and the significant impact that improved youth mental health services can have on their populations.

Key Pillars of the Initiative

1. Learn:

   • Objective: To drive systemic change through learning and understanding the specific mental health needs and drivers in each priority country.

   • Focus: Research to guide advocacy and funding priorities, with an emphasis on understanding the impact of stressors like pandemics and climate change on youth mental health.

2. Invest:

   • Objective: To fund youth-led organizations that address identified mental health drivers.

   • Focus: Supporting innovations from initial testing to high-impact scaling to enhance sustainability and impact on youth mental health.

3. Mobilize:

   • Objective: To promote global dialogue and build consensus through the exchange of new evidence and innovations.

   • Focus: Funding ecosystem building grants to tackle systemic barriers and integrate mental health services into broader health and policy areas.

Types of Funding Available

1. Proof of Concept (POC)

   • Funding Amount: Up to $250,000 CAD over 15 to 24 months.

   • Purpose: To support early-stage innovations that test and refine preventative and promotional mental health initiatives.

   • Eligibility: Primarily youth-led organizations focusing on innovative, culturally sensitive, and community-driven approaches.

2. Transition to Scale (TTS)

   • Funding Amount: Between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD over 12 to 48 months.

   • Purpose: To expand promising innovations that have demonstrated potential for large-scale impact.

   • Focus: Generating impact evidence, advancing sustainability plans, and scaling in new geographies or with new partners.

3. Ecosystem Catalyst (EC)

   • Funding Amount: Between $200,000 CAD and $300,000 CAD over 24 months, with potential for renewal.

   • Purpose: To strengthen local ecosystems for youth mental health through national and sub-national activities.

   • Focus: Addressing systemic barriers, integrating mental health into related areas, and fostering an enabling environment for innovation.

Target Outcomes and Impact

The Being Initiative is committed to achieving substantial improvements in various aspects of youth mental health and well-being, such as emotional regulation, resilience, and coping strategies. The expected outcomes include enhanced mental health literacy, reduced stigma, and better social integration for youth. This funding opportunity is set to catalyze the development of sustainable solutions that can be integrated into existing educational and social care systems, meeting young people where they are.

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SOLVERE encourages its partners and readers to consider applying for this unique funding opportunity. By participating, organizations can contribute to a global effort to transform youth mental health and create a positive, long-lasting impact on the lives of young people across the priority countries.

For more information and to apply, please visit the official Being Initiative funding page.

This call for proposals represents a significant step towards addressing the mental health needs of young people globally. Through innovative solutions and collaborative efforts, we can ensure that the mental well-being of the next generation is supported and sustained.