Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches are set to receive $3.11 million in funding for mental health services this winter. The announcement was made by Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden, an Olympic kayak champion, in Montreal ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
Van Koeverden emphasized the importance of providing certainty to athletes by ensuring continuous mental health services without any gaps. The funding, part of the federal government’s $16 million commitment in the 2024 budget to support athlete well-being, aims to address maltreatment, concussions, mental health issues, and promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility over two years.
The $3.11 million for the 2025-26 period will be allocated among the national network of sport institutes, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Karen O’Neill highlighted the critical role of mental health support in creating a healthy high-performance environment centered on athlete well-being.
A portion of the funding will support Game Plan, a collaborative initiative to aid athletes in their career development and wellness, including post-retirement. Van Koeverden stressed the importance of athletes being able to rely on performance psychologists for support, citing his own experiences of seeking guidance during stressful or anxious times.
The International Olympic Committee’s Mental Health Action Plan, launched in 2023, referenced a 2019 study indicating that 34% of elite athletes face anxiety and depression. The funding aims to address these challenges and prioritize the mental well-being of Canadian athletes as they prepare for the upcoming Winter Games in Italy.