Mary Simon's bold plan to transform mental health in Northern communities

Outgoing Governor General Mary Simon has launched a new initiative to improve mental health support in Northern and Indigenous communities. The project will fund local services and address long-standing gaps in care. Simon, who grew up in the Arctic, has made the region a key focus of her work in office. The initiative follows Simon’s 2024 mental health tour, where she met with residents across remote and rural areas. She highlighted the severe lack of accessible services in these regions.

The project will be managed by the Rideau Hall Foundation. The federal government has already committed $5 million to get it started. An additional $10 million will be added if the foundation matches the funds raised. Prime Minister Mark Carney praised Simon’s dedication to Northern and rural communities. He noted her efforts to bring national attention to their challenges during her time in office.

The new funding aims to expand community-led mental health programmes. Simon’s initiative targets areas where services are scarce or non-existent. The government’s contribution and potential matching funds will help sustain the project in the long term.