The future for young Manitobans just became a whole lot brighter.
Today marks a momentous milestone for youth and their families as Huddle, Manitoba’s Integrated Youth Services (IYS) initiative, announces a $10 million investment from the federal Youth Mental Health Fund—the largest investment of its kind in Canada.
Over the next four years, this historic funding will strengthen and expand Huddle, including scaling support for students in schools around the province and establishing two new youth hubs—one in northern Manitoba and one in rural/southern Manitoba.
“Every young person deserves support that’s quick to find, easy to access, and feels safe because it’s designed by and for youth,” said Pam Sveinson, Executive Director of Huddle. “This tremendous investment from the Government of Canada will allow even more young Manitobans to find the low barrier, culturally safe, and trauma-informed support they need —all under one welcoming roof.”
Right now, only about half (52%) of Manitoban youth who need mental health and substance use services are actually accessing them. Too many hurdles are keeping them from the help they need—from long waiting lists and siloed care to encountering stigma, discrimination, and racism.
An initiative of the Province of Manitoba, Huddle launched in 2022 to remove those barriers and create clearer pathways to support.
Instead of bouncing around to different doctors, counsellors, or drop-ins, youth can pass through the vibrant doors at Huddle and find all the support they need—from free mental and physical health care to Indigenous wellness and peer support—all in one youth-friendly and inclusive place.
“When I first walked into a Huddle hub, I was definitely nervous. But the warmth of the community took the anxiousness away,” shared Jodh Ghuman, a third-year microbiology student at the University of Manitoba.
“I knew that this was a place I could relax and use resources in a friendly space without judgment. It’s a safe place where youth know they belong and are accepted for who they are.”
“This tremendous investment from the Government of Canada will allow even more young Manitobans to find the low barrier, culturally safe, and trauma-informed support they need—all under one welcoming roof.”
Now a member of Huddle’s Youth Advisory Council, Jodh is excited to see Huddle grow and become a lifeline for even more youth—particularly young Manitobans living in areas that may not have the free, early intervention services that can help improve their health and wellbeing.
“It’s so important for Huddle to not only be available for urban youth, but also youth across the province and especially those living in rural areas,” said Jodh. “Being from a small town myself, I am very excited to hear that youth living in both northern and southern Manitoba will get their own Huddle hub.”
Currently, six youth hubs in Winnipeg, Brandon, and Selkirk provide more seamless and coordinated wraparound wellness support for young people. The addition of two more hubs will put these services within reach of underserved communities, embedding Huddle in every health region around the province.
Nicole Tornquist, Junior Chief of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, is thrilled a new Indigenous-led Huddle hub will be coming to her region, helping fill a tremendous need.
“Northern Manitoba lacks a lot of resources for young people,” Nicole explained. “I feel Huddle would fix that gap that seems to be missing in a lot of communities for young people.”
Like Jodh, Nicole also believes it’s critical to wrap a caring and trusting community around youth so they don’t feel alone, especially in their darkest moments.
With Huddle, she said, “Youth would have somewhere to go for help and, most importantly, they would have a safe space and a sense of belonging.”
Another core component of the new federal funding is to help improve both educational and health outcomes for our province’s future leaders by building bridges between students and community resources.
Recognizing that many young people don’t know where to turn for support, Huddle and Winnipeg School Division launched a pilot project at the end of 2022, placing Huddle staff in schools to build trusting relationships with students and guide them to mental health and wellness support nearby.
“We truly appreciate this opportunity,” said a parent whose son connected with a counsellor and nurse practitioner at Huddle through the friendly service navigator at his school. “It would be wonderful to have more places like Huddle in our community.”
Through the Youth Mental Health Fund, contracts for all four Huddle service navigators in Winnipeg will be extended for another four years, with another five positions gradually added to schools in Brandon, Selkirk, northern Manitoba, and rural/southern Manitoba.
“This is a game-changer for youth, families, schools, and communities in Manitoba,” explained Alysha Oliver, Huddle’s Systems Transformation and Strategy Lead. “It’s so important to meet young people right where they’re at, especially linking youth who are 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomers, transitioning out of care, from low-income households, or facing homelessness to support beyond the classroom.”
As Huddle expands, this federal investment will also strengthen the foundation of the six existing youth hubs, so they can continue to be accessible, impactful, and responsive to the evolving needs of youth.
Mental health clinicians will receive additional training to better support young people. An Indigenous evaluator will also guide Huddle’s evaluation framework, so the impact of these services is measured in a way that aligns with decolonial principles and truly reflects the voices and experiences of the young people Huddle supports.
For 19-year-old Jodh, this work of reimagining the way youth access support for their mental health and overall wellbeing is about leaving no young person behind.
“My hope is that youth from all cultures and gender identities in Manitoba have a community and can access resources when they are ready,” shared Jodh.
“If you’re a youth looking for a sense of community and some support, there is a Huddle hub waiting for you!”
