Health Canada announces new supports to improve the health of Black Canadians

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Through Canada’s first-ever Black Justice Strategy, the Government of Canada is investing in initiatives that address substance use and addictions, support mental health, and help build healthier futures for Black communities.

Today, as part of this strategy, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced more than $6 million through the Substance Use and Addictions Program and the Supporting Community Mental Health Crisis Response Initiative.  

The funded projects will support initiatives focused on:

• Increasing access to culturally safe substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery supports for Black communities;
• Offering peer mentorship, provider training, and culturally responsive service delivery;
• Helping Black youth and families through early intervention, mental health supports, and wellness programming;
• Enhancing the ability of community organizations to provide non-police-led intervention for Black individuals experiencing a mental health crisis; and
• Improving awareness, navigation, and coordination of substance use services while addressing stigma and systemic barriers to care.

Quotes

“Through Canada’s first-ever Black Justice Strategy, we’re working directly with Black communities to empower community-led organizations and give them the support and resources they need to continue and strengthen this important work. By investing in culturally responsive, community-led solutions, we’re helping ensure Black Canadians can access high-quality care and the supports they need to thrive.”

The Honourable Marjorie Michel

Minister of Health

“Canada’s Black Justice Strategy recognizes that achieving fair outcomes for Black communities requires more than addressing barriers within the criminal justice system alone. These investments will help address root causes linked to systemic racism and support healthier, safer and more just outcomes for Black communities across Canada.”

The Honourable Sean Fraser 

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

“Health Canada’s SUAP funding is helping HSDE Canada create safe, culturally grounded spaces where Black youth and families in Winnipeg can openly discuss mental health and substance use. Through school-based workshops, peer support, one-on-one mentorship, drop-in opportunities, and connections to culturally appropriate mental health, addiction, and recovery services, we are reducing barriers to care. Built with our community, for our community, this initiative helps people feel heard, supported, and connected to the care they deserve.”

Ambition Zihindula

Executive Director, Humanitarian Solidarity for Development & Empowerment Canada (HSDE)

“Health Canada’s funding has been vital in the ongoing development of the Black Canadian Mental Health Response at the University of Toronto. This online resource hub will increase awareness of existing mental health services designed for Black individuals and communities from preventative supports through acute crisis response, follow-up care, and case management. This funding has also allowed us to learn from community members, practitioners, and Black-serving community organizations, providing insights about where and how mental health initiatives should be developed in the future, critical gaps in access to care that need to be addressed, and best practices for engaging with Black individuals experiencing an acute crisis.”

Dr. Storm K. Jeffers

Project Manager and Research Lead of the Black Canadian Mental Health Response, University of Toronto 

Quick Facts

• Canada’s Black Justice Strategy is the Government of Canada’s first national framework dedicated to addressing longstanding anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination. Released in February 2025, Toward Transformative Change: an Implementation Plan for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy sets out the Government’s 10-year approach to responding to the recommendations in the external Steering Group’s report, A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy.
• Since 2018, the Government of Canada’s Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund has driven community-led, culturally focused care nationwide. Through it, the Government of Canada has committed $18 million to community-led mental health initiatives. This includes 61 projects across 43 Black-led organizations.
• The Government of Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) provides time-limited funding to governments, Indigenous organizations, community-based organizations, and not-for-profit organizations to support evidence-informed initiatives across the continuum of care, including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery.
• Since 2017, SUAP has committed over $770 million to more than 480 projects, with many of these initiatives providing culturally appropriate services tailored to the needs of diverse populations across Canada.  
• Funding for the Supporting Community Mental Health Crisis Response Initiative is being delivered through Health Canada’s Health Care Policy and Strategies Program.
• Canada’s Black Justice Strategy is the Government of Canada’s contribution to the Justice Pillar of the second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025 to 2034).

Associated Links

• Backgrounder: Health Canada announces new supports to improve the health of Black Canadians

Related links

• Canada’s Black Justice Strategy – Justice Canada 
• Government of Canada announces funding to support Black communities – Justice Canada (April 24, 2026)
• Substance Use and Addictions Program
• Health Care Policy and Strategies Program

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)