GreenShield Cares about mental health
Of the 8 million Canadians who reported needing mental health services in the last year, only 24 per cent had their needs fully met. 1
We’re collaborating with partners to advance health equity and expand access to mental health services and resources that support underserved communities and reflect the diverse identities and experiences of people living in Canada.
We exist to champion Better Health for All™
As a non-profit health and benefits company, we reinvest our earnings and redeploy our health services to improve the well-being of those living in Canada.
Since 2018, we’ve invested over $18.5 million in mental health initiatives, positively impacting 300,000 Canadians.
We’re committed to investing $75 million to impact over one million lives by 2025.
GreenShield Cares about youth mental health
Canadian youth are facing a mental health crisis, with 16- to 24-year-olds reporting mental health and substance use challenges at higher rates compared to other generations.2 Despite this need, many are experiencing barriers to accessing support, from accessibility to affordability to a lack of culturally sensitive care.
We're expanding our GreenShield Cares signature Mental Health initiative to address this. Our new Youth Mental Health initiative will deliver a comprehensive solution to improve mental health outcomes and shape the future of youth mental health support for generations to come.
As a crucial first step, we needed a national view of the critical factors impacting young people's well-being and their barriers to getting support. We partnered with Mental Health Research Canada to introduce the Youth Mental Health Data Hub, a groundbreaking interactive dashboard providing a national snapshot of youth mental health.
This data will help us better understand young people’s needs so we can build a solution that will connect them to the right care, at the right time.
Mental health isn’t one-size-fits-all
Everyone’s mental health journey looks different. This is Jessica’s story.
Meet our mental health partners
Through deep and collaborative partnerships, we’re expanding access to mental health support — such as culturally sensitive, trauma-informed virtual therapy — and introducing new services tailored to the unique needs of communities across Canada. Here’s a closer look at some of our recent initiatives.
Strong Minds Strong Kids
See how SMSK’s Make the Connection program supports caregivers and helps build resilient families by strengthening the parent-child bond.
“Many of our clients who've experienced homelessness, poverty, unemployment or complex trauma, have real and significant mental health needs. GreenShield has allowed us to respond to the mental health needs of our clients.”
– Linda Yuval, National Director of Programs and Impact for Up with Women.
Spotlight: GreenShield Cares Women’s Mental Health program
Our Women’s Mental Health program offers free culturally sensitive, trauma-informed virtual therapy and a complimentary one-year subscription to internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (Digital iCBT) to those 18+ in Canada who identify as women, non-binary, and gender non-conforming.
Since 2021, we’ve helped nearly 85,000 women living in Canada access mental health support at no cost.
In 2024, GreenShield is deepening the impact of this initiative through partnerships and expanding access to innovative programs.
Mental health resources
Therapy brief: Digital CBT
Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an effective anxiety and depression management tool.
Which type of therapy is right for you?
Finding the right mental health support is a critical part of your mental health journey.
Mental health tips for new parents
How healthy parent-child relationships improve well-being.
1,2 Mental Health Research Canada: https://www.mhrc.ca/findings-of-poll-19