Country News
Applications Now Open: Funding Youth Mental Health Innovations
We are funding bold ideas that address the early drivers of youth mental health challenges in 12 countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania,…
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Shifting Power in Youth Mental Health Research: Key Lessons from Global Researchers at the IAYMH Conference
Mental health ecosystems, which encompass both formal systems (like policies) and informal relationships (such as community interactions), play a crucial role in supporting population wellbeing. At the 7th International Association…
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Scaling Innovative Solutions for Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health
Last November, Being and Grand Challenges Canada participated in the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Colombia. Together with our incredible partners—The Early Childhood Development Action…
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In Colombia, 25% of teenagers experience family dysfunction including parental absence, communication breakdowns, financial stress, conflict, insecurity, and trauma. The majority of stakeholders consulted in Colombia’s landscape analysis highlighted family functioning as a critical area for intervention and a significant driver of youth mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, suicide, self-harm, and substance use.
National policies currently prioritize strong family connections and supportive school environments, positioning communities and educational systems as vital spaces to develop innovative solutions that strengthen family dynamics and support young people and their caregivers.
What we’re funding in Colombia
Proof-of-concept funding:
Proof-of-concept (POC) funding up to $250,000 CAD will be awarded to early-stage projects that can implement, test and refine solutions to country-specific personal, social, and/or environmental factors impacting young people’s mental health and wellbeing in one of the 12 countries.
In Colombia, we’re funding POC ideas to strengthen family functioning. These innovative solutions should include a focus on addressing family conflict or violence for young people and their parents/caregivers.
Transition-to-scale funding:
Transition-to-scale (TTS) funding between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD will be awarded to support tested mental health promotion and prevention approaches that align with country-specific priorities along their scaling journey to help catalyze their sustainability and impact.
In Colombia, we’re funding TTS approaches to strengthen family functioning. These innovative solutions should include a focus on addressing family conflict or violence for young people and their parents/caregivers
Ecosystem catalyst funding:
Ecosystem catalyst (EC) funding between $200,000 CAD and $300,000 CAD will be awarded to organizations that can address priority barriers to scale, such as legislation, evidence, coordination, and mobilize demand to help mental health initiatives succeed and grow in one of 12 priority countries.
In Colombia, we’re funding EC projects that support implementation and accountability mechanisms for national youth mental health policies that are related to environments where youth spend time, such as schools and community settings.
Funded Innovations
Flori — connecting social and emotional learning between classrooms and homes in Latin America
Implementing Organization: Coschool
Type: Proof-of-Concept
Location: Colombia
Thematic Area(s): Digital
Status: Funded
KAMALEÓN: My True Story
Implementing Organization: La Mixera Fund
Type: Proof-of-Concept
Location: Cauca, Magdalena, Guajira, Antioquia, Chocó, and Boyacá, Colombia
Thematic Area(s): Arts, Storytelling
Status: Funded
