Being Initiative

🇪🇨In Ecuador, stakeholders consulted in our landscape analysis highlighted that a lack of collaboration among national mental health actors is preventing the implementation and demand of youth mental health initiatives. 💡That’s why we’re funding one organization that can improve alignment and collaboration among mental health stakeholders to advance youth mental health and their safety on the national agenda. 💰 Funding: $200,000–$300,000 CAD over 24 months 🗓 Deadline to apply: August 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/ejGHt6BW . . . 🇪🇨 En Ecuador, las partes interesadas que consultamos en nuestro análisis del panorama destacaron que la falta de colaboración entre los actores nacionales involucrados en la salud mental está impidiendo la implementación y el impulso de iniciativas de salud mental para los jóvenes. 💡 Por eso queremos financiar a una organización que pueda mejorar la alineación y la colaboración entre las partes interesadas en promover la salud mental de los jóvenes y su seguridad en la agenda nacional. 💰 Financiación: CAD $200,000 a $300,000 durante 24 meses 🗓 Fecha límite para postularse: 20 de agosto de 2025 a las 23:59, hora del Este 🔗 Más información y postulación: https://lnkd.in/ejGHt6BW Grand Challenges Canada

💡 3 in 4 people with mental health conditions develop them before age 24. That’s why the Being Initiative, hosted at Grand Challenges Canada, focuses on early action—giving young people the tools, support, and space they need to feel well and thrive. 🌱 We invest in research, innovation and ecosystem building that is led by youth, letting young innovators lead the way in everything we do. 🔗 Learn more: www.beinginitiative.org Fondation Botnar United for Global Mental Health NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Orygen Science for Africa Foundation

📢 #MHForAll Webinar: Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health 📢 Young people are more than beneficiaries of mental health interventions - they are experts in the programmes and circumstances that affect their own mental health. We know that youth should be fully included and lead discussions and decisions about their wellbeing. 💡 On July 22nd, we’re exploring what this means in practice at a special #MHForAll Webinar: Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health! We have an exciting lineup of speakers who will be examining the factors that have helped youth advocates step into leadership positions and the barriers that persist within the field. 🫱🏻🫲🏽 #MHForAll Webinar: Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health 📆 Tuesday 22nd July 🕰️ 8:00-9:00AM EDT | 1:00-2:00PM BST | 3:00-4:00PM EAT 📝 Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eJJinufy ⭐ Our expert speakers include: Judah Njoroge, The Resilience Project (Kenya); Anne-Sharlene Murapa, Kurapa Moyo (South Africa); Cat Pham, EMBRACE Vietnam (Vietnam); Jaclyn Schess, Generation Mental Health Association (USA); Erica ZissisGrand Challenges Canada / Being Initiative (Canada). 🔺 Register now to discover how identities such as #gender, #race, #class and #livedexperience of mental health shape how youth leaders are perceived, and how young professionals can ensure their wellbeing while taking on leadership roles. This webinar has been organised by GMHAN’s Child and Youth Working Group Co-Chairs: Muskan Lamba, Don Zane Muwanguzi and Murilo Slomka. Learn more about our Working Groups and join our movement here: https://lnkd.in/eEgYACCj ⭐ We are deeply grateful to our partners at Pinterest for their ongoing support in helping us broaden the field of mental health and strengthen our collective capacity for advocacy through our #MHForAll Webinar Series and Knowledge Exchanges. #MentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #GlobalHealth #WebinarSeries #YouthLeadership #MentalHealthAdvocacy

📢 Join Erica Zissis, Program Operations Associate at Grand Challenges Canada, for the next #MHForAll Webinar hosted by the Global Mental Health Action Network! Join us to delve into what happens when youth lead, and lead differently, sharing real stories and purpose. Don't miss this crucial conversation – register now! 🫱🏻🫲🏽 Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health 📆 Tuesday 22nd July 🕰️ 8:00-9:00AM EDT | 1:00-2:00PM BST | 3:00-4:00PM EAT 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/d434F7s3

Exciting News! We—Global Mental Health Action Network Child & Youth Working Group—are driving something truly meaningful. Alongside my incredible fellow co-chairs, Muskan Lamba and Murilo Slomka we’ve been curating a conversation that places authentic youth leadership at the heart of it all. We’re thrilled to feature dynamic young leaders from around the world, including: Judah Njoroge -(Kenya) bringing climate change, youth leadership and mental health. Cat Pham (Vietnam) – Connecting the dots between climate justice and mental health Anne-Sharlene Murapa (South Africa) – Sharing powerful insights from community-led mental health work Jaclyn Schess (USA) – Leading global youth advocacy through meaningful action and networks Erica Zissis Canada– Reflecting on what meaningful youth engagement looks like in mental health funding As young people today inherit systems not built with us in mind, we’re reminded that true leadership doesn’t just happen—it’s intentionally cultivated. We often hear words like “youth leader,” “advocate,” and “changemaker.” But what happens when those words go beyond buzz and become lived practice? This session—Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health—is hosted by the Global Mental Health Action Network (GMHAN) and proudly curated by the Child & Youth Working Group, as part of the long-running #MHForAll series, which has featured 230+ speakers from 70+ countries. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/deHPhzt3 Let’s learn, reflect, and lead—together. Register for free. Being Initiative , United for Global Mental Health ,

📢 Coming up next week! Join young leaders Muskan Lamba, Don Zane Muwanguzi, Murilo Slomka, Judah Njoroge, Anne-Sharlene Murapa, Cat Pham, Jaclyn Schess, Erica Zissis for an inspiring #MHForAll Webinar hosted by the Global Mental Health Action Network! 🧠 Topic: Youth Reimagining Leadership in Mental Health 📅 Date: July 22, 2025 🕐 Time: 13:00–14:00 BST 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/dxWZb-TV ✨ You'll hear from Erica Zissis, Program Operations Associate at Grand Challenges Canada, as she shares insights into our approach to youth leadership in mental health funding. United for Global Mental Health

🚨 New Resource Launch | Mental Health + AI Nearly 1 billion people live with a mental health condition, yet in many parts of the world, access to trained providers remains limited. Developed by Grand Challenges Canada, McKinsey Health Institute and Google the new Mental Health and AI Field Guide is a website-based resource to help innovators and service providers explore how AI can support mental health care. It features tools, case studies, and guiding questions to encourage thoughtful integration of AI to support task sharing. The guide was shaped through consultation with leaders in the field, including GCC-supported innovators like Friendship Bench and StrongMinds whose community-based models are helping to close the care gap at scale. As one of the leading global funders of mental health innovation, Grand Challenges Canada has supported bold, community-driven solutions since 2011. We remain committed to learning, adapting, and investing in approaches that expand access where it’s needed most. We’re not alone in exploring this space. Organizations like Wellcome Trust are asking important questions about how AI can responsibly support mental health—and we’re eager to learn alongside them. Explore the Field Guide: https://lnkd.in/gZSbkdmq #MentalHealth #AIforGood #TaskSharing #DigitalHealth #GlobalHealth #Innovation #HealthEquity #GrandChallenges . . 🚨 Lancement d'une nouvelle ressource : Santé mentale + IA Près d'un milliard de personnes vivent avec un problème de santé mentale. Pourtant, dans de nombreuses régions du monde, l'accès à des prestataires formés reste limité. Développé par GDC , McKinsey Health Institute et Google, le nouveau guide de terrain sur la santé mentale et l'IA est une ressource en ligne visant à aider les innovateurs.trices et les prestataires de services à explorer la façon dont l'IA peut soutenir les soins de santé mentale. Il propose des outils, des études de cas et des questions directrices visant à encourager une intégration réfléchie de l'IA pour soutenir le partage des tâches. Le guide a été élaboré en consultation avec des experts dans ce domaine, notamment des innovateurs soutenus par le GDC tels que « Friendship Bench » et « StrongMinds », dont les modèles communautaires contribuent à combler les lacunes en matière de soins à grande échelle. En tant que l'un des principaux bailleurs de fonds mondiaux de l'innovation en santé mentale, Grands Défis Canada soutient des solutions audacieuses et axées sur la communauté depuis 2011. Nous restons déterminés à apprendre, à adapter et à investir dans des approches qui élargissent l'accès là où c'est le plus nécessaire. Nous ne sommes pas les seuls à explorer cet espace. Des organisations comme « Wellcome Trust » posent des questions importantes sur la façon dont l'IA peut soutenir la santé mentale de manière responsable - et nous sommes impatients d'apprendre à leurs côtés. Découvrez le guide de terrain: https://lnkd.in/gZSbkdmq

🌟 Version 2.0 of our Innovation Lookbook is here! 🌟 Meet the bold, youth-led mental health solutions from Cohort 2, improving youth wellbeing through sports, storytelling, tech, and more in 12 countries! 📖 Check out the updated Lookbook: https://lnkd.in/e5dpfCix 👇 Discover the projects from Cohort 2: ✨Proof of Concept: ⚽ Let's Play Baranoa! by FCC Colombia: Building emotional resilience in Colombia through school-based football. 🇨🇴 The RISE project by IsraAID Colombia: Empowering Wayuu youth in Colombia with culturally grounded mental health tools. 🇬🇭 The Brave GH App by University of Cape Coast: Tackling bullying in Ghanaian schools with the BRAVE App and peer clubs. 📖 "Kaavad" by SHARP NGO: Reviving Indian storytelling traditions to spark mental health conversations. 📱 Kita Bersama by Monash University, Indonesia: Co-designing a digital platform to support Indonesian youth after childhood trauma. 🎮 Embrace Your Power by Remnant Dream SLR: Using VR to build empathy and fight bullying in Romania. 🎨 The Art of Better-Being by Tostan: Fostering mental wellbeing through art, music & tradition in rural Senegal. 🏆 Entertain Your Health by Women Health Initiative: Using sports & entertainment to tackle substance abuse in Sierra Leone. 🎲 Sparki Board Game by Predon: Bringing fun and stigma-free mental health learning to Tanzanian classrooms. ✨Transition to Scale: 📲 TAHMEF: Their AHADI app connects Tanzanian youth to stigma-free digital and offline mental health support. 🎒 Azulado - Por una niñez protegida: The Mi Escudo School Toolkit equips Ecuadorian youth with self-protection skills and promotes safe environments at school. ✨Ecosystem Catalyst: 📣 Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH): Strengthening mental health systems and sustainability in Tanzania. Explore more innovations on our website: https://lnkd.in/e3D6mVeC Grand Challenges Canada Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Fondation Botnar NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)

📢 Ecosystem Building Opportunity in Ecuador! 🇪🇨 In Ecuador, stakeholders consulted in our landscape analysis highlighted that a lack of collaboration among national mental health actors is preventing the implementation and demand of youth mental health initiatives. 💡That’s why we’re funding one organization that can improve alignment and collaboration among mental health stakeholders to advance youth mental health and their safety on the national agenda. 💰 Available Funding: $200,000–$300,000 CAD over 24 months 🗓 Deadline to apply: August 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/ejGHt6BW . . . 📢 ¡Oportunidad de creación de ecosistemas en Ecuador! 🇪🇨 En Ecuador, las partes interesadas que consultamos en nuestro análisis del panorama destacaron que la falta de colaboración entre los actores nacionales involucrados en la salud mental está impidiendo la implementación y el impulso de iniciativas de salud mental para los jóvenes. 💡 Por eso queremos financiar a una organización que pueda mejorar la alineación y la colaboración entre las partes interesadas en promover la salud mental de los jóvenes y su seguridad en la agenda nacional. 💰 Financiación disponible: CAD $200,000 a $300,000 durante 24 meses 🗓 Fecha límite para postularse: 20 de agosto de 2025 a las 23:59, hora del Este 🔗 Más información y postulación: https://lnkd.in/ejGHt6BW #FundingOpportunity Grand Challenges Canada Fondation Botnar Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) United for Global Mental Health Orygen Science for Africa Foundation

📝 One week left to apply! Grand Challenges Canada and Fondation Botnar seek evaluators for the Being Initiative to assess our early outcomes and inform program improvements. We’re looking for evaluators with a strong track record in developmental evaluation, especially those with expertise in mental health in low- and middle-income countries! 🔍 🗓️ Learn more and apply by July 3, 2025: https://lnkd.in/evryJ4NY