Through a new partnership with GreenShield, Pathways students across Canada will have access to free, culturally appropriate virtual therapy and self-guided cognitive behavioural therapy programs.
Pathways to Education Canada is proud to announce a new partnership with GreenShield to support the mental health and well-being of young people involved in the program.
Pathways students and alumni ages 15-29 will have access to up to five hours of free, culturally appropriate virtual therapy with qualified practitioners. They will also receive a one-year subscription to Digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT), a self-guided program to help young people develop healthy coping skills over the long term.
This initiative responds to a recent call from Pathways students for more accessible mental health services and stronger community supports. Last year, as part of a Program Review in partnership with the Students Commission of Canada, Pathways undertook in-depth consultations with youth and program staff across all 31 communities to better understand their changing realities. What emerged was a clear picture of rising stress, anxiety, and loneliness, shaped by economic pressures and the lasting effects of the pandemic. Many youth spoke about struggling with self-confidence and emotional regulation, while others described ongoing barriers to accessing mental health services.
Their insights reflect broader national trends. According to the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, the proportion of youth aged 16 to 21 reporting their mental health as “fair” or “poor” more than doubled from 2019 to 2023.(1)
“As young people’s needs continue to evolve, it’s critical that we work together to ensure they can access the supports they need to overcome barriers to their well-being,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO of Pathways to Education Canada. “We are incredibly grateful to GreenShield for its commitment to expanding mental health services for Pathways students.”
GreenShield, Canada’s only national non-profit health care and insurance organization, is dedicated to improving health equity for underserved populations, with youth mental health as a key area of focus. Through its social impact platform, GreenShield Cares, GreenShield works closely with community partners to help remove barriers to care, simplify how young people find and access support, and complement existing public systems in ways that improve access, well-being, and outcomes.
“Young people across Canada are telling us they need mental health supports that are easier to access and reflect their lived realities,” said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, Head of GreenShield Cares. “This partnership with Pathways is about meeting students where they are, removing barriers to care, and providing practical, culturally appropriate supports that can make a real difference in their daily lives, while helping to build a more accessible and connected system of care.”
This partnership builds on GreenShield’s broader Youth Mental Health initiative, launched in 2025, which was developed alongside youth and community partners to respond to the growing mental health needs of young people across Canada. The initiative introduced two foundational elements: the Youth Mental Health Data Hub, a publicly accessible dashboard that provides a national snapshot of youth mental health, and GreenShield’s Youth Mental Health Ecosystem, a centralized digital platform offering timely, culturally informed supports. Since 2020, GreenShield has invested $29.1 million in social impact initiatives related to mental health – including more than $8 million in youth mental health – helping over 100,000 young people accessing free, culturally appropriate services and resources through these efforts.
When young people have access to the right social and emotional supports, they are better able to navigate challenges, build resilience, and stay engaged in learning, work, and community life. Pathways is grateful for partners like GreenShield, whose support is helping us deepen this work and expand our impact for young people and their families.
To learn more about this initiative, please visit Youth Mental Health Care Services | GreenShield Cares
About GreenShield
As Canada’s only national non-profit health care and insurance organization, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We’re dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health and well-being potential.
(1) Statistics Canada. (2025). Rising mental health concerns among youth. Statistics Canada. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/7642-rising-mental-health-concerns-among-youth