The initiative works with young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through research, innovation, and ecosystem building, with a focus on prevention and promotion in 12 countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
Being Partners
Being is hosted by Grand Challenges Canada (funded in part by the Government of Canada) and operates as a collaborative initiative with multiple partners including Fondation Botnar, The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Science for Africa Foundation, Orygen, and United for Global Mental Health. The initiative is actively seeking new funding partners to help transform mental health for young people worldwide.
The challenge
Young people around the world face mounting mental health challenges yet often lack adequate support systems. According to the World Health Organization:
1 in 7
An estimated 1 in 7 young people aged 10-19 globally experience mental health conditions, with suicide ranking as the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds
75%
In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental health conditions receive no treatment at all.
$6 trillion
The economic cost of mental health conditions is projected to reach $6 trillion globally by 2030.
By focusing on prevention and promotion rather than just treatment, Being addresses the root drivers of mental health concerns before they escalate. Being prioritizes underserved youth in urban and peri-urban settings, recognizing that early intervention is crucial for lifelong wellbeing.
Our approach
Being’s priorities have been guided by locally driven country analyses and consultations with youth, policymakers, local organizations, and mental health experts. The initiative seeks innovative solutions that address the context-specific drivers of young people’s mental health and wellbeing in each of the 12 focus countries. By emphasizing prevention and promotion, Being aims to create supportive environments where young people can develop resilience and positive mental health practices.
Country-specific priorities
Each of the 12 countries has tailored focus areas based on local needs:
Colombia
Strengthening family functioning, addressing family conflict/violence
Ecuador
Promoting physical and emotional safety, preventing violence against youth
Ghana
Promoting positive mental health in schools, addressing bullying and cyberbullying
India
Strengthening family functioning, improving parent-child communication
Indonesia
Preventing adverse childhood experiences, addressing peer/family violence
Morocco
Promoting wellbeing in schools, addressing bullying and social media overuse
Pakistan
Strengthening family functioning, addressing strict parenting styles
Romania
Preventing bullying and cyberbullying in schools
Senegal
Reducing mental health stigma, addressing lack of knowledge (POC only)
Sierra Leone
Reducing and preventing substance use among youth
Tanzania
Reducing mental health stigma, addressing lack of mental health education
Vietnam
Strengthening family functioning, addressing strict parenting styles
Funding opportunities
Two types of grants are currently available:
Proof of Concept (POC)
Up to $250,000 CAD for early-stage projects that implement, test, and refine solutions addressing country-specific personal, social, and environmental factors impacting youth mental health
Transition to Scale (TTS)
Between $300,000-$1,500,000 CAD for tested approaches with positive results and significant potential to achieve high impact at scale
Applications are strongly encouraged from youth-led organizations (where 50% or more of staff in key leadership roles are aged 35 and under) based in the 12 priority countries. The application involves a two-stage process: a screening questionnaire with project summary, followed by a full project application for those who pass the initial screening.
Applications are accepted until June 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET through Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal: www.gcc.fluxx.io. For more information, visit the Being Initiative website or contact info@being-initiative.org.
Featured reports
Being Lookbook: Meet the innovators
Meet the first cohort of innovations transforming mental health in Being’s 12 priority countries.
Empowering futures: Mental health in advancing the SDGs
Read Being’s new report on the role of youth mental health in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals
Mapping youth mental health landscapes
Being’s new report, Mapping Youth Mental Health Landscapes: Local Insights from 13 Countries, provides a comprehensive landscape analysis of youth mental health around the globe, revealing key challenges and opportunities from consultations with young people and mental health experts.