Canada’s federal government has not released a single, nationwide “RFA package” branded exactly as a joint Suicide Prevention and Alcohol & Drug Prevention Grants call. Instead, new and ongoing federal and provincial funding streams for suicide prevention and substance‑use prevention are being opened or renewed for 2025–26 under different program names and departments, many of which are now accepting applications.
Current federal calls tied to suicide prevention
At the national level, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is using Budget 2021 and subsequent funding to support community‑based mental health promotion and suicide‑prevention initiatives, with a focus on innovative, evidence‑informed projects for priority populations. While PHAC’s suicide‑prevention work is framed under its broader mental health and 9‑8‑8 Suicide Crisis Helpline commitments, project funding typically flows through targeted contribution programs and competitive calls rather than one permanent, standing grant.
A separate Youth Mental Health Fund call for proposals, launched in late 2024, is also accepting applications for projects that improve access to mental health supports for young people and may include suicide‑prevention components where clearly justified. These calls function much like RFAs, specifying eligibility, priority populations, outcomes and reporting expectations in detailed applicant guides.
Provincial and territorial prevention grants now open
Provinces are simultaneously rolling out their own grant programs that directly reference suicide prevention and substance‑use harm reduction. Saskatchewan’s “Pillars for Life” strategy, for example, includes competitive grants for local suicide‑prevention initiatives, with a 2025–26 round open to community organizations that can show alignment with provincial priorities. Alberta’s Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program, renewed for 2024–26, funds projects supporting youth under 25 in areas such as services, training, and awareness, with particular emphasis on Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomer and other high‑risk groups.
Newfoundland and Labrador has issued a 2025–26 call under its Community Addictions Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Grant Program, offering up to 10,000 dollars per project for initiatives in suicide prevention, life promotion, and the prevention of alcohol‑ and other drug‑related harms. Together, these show a clear trend: multiple jurisdictions are inviting proposals for community‑driven suicide‑ and addiction‑prevention work, even if they do not share a single federal RFA title.
Substance‑use, alcohol and drug prevention funding
At the federal level, Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) continues to provide time‑limited contribution funding for prevention, harm reduction and treatment projects addressing a range of substances, including alcohol, opioids and stimulants. Recent announcements added 10 million dollars for six Western‑Canada projects, and further calls are anticipated to support community‑led responses to the overdose crisis and substance‑use harms.
In parallel, the Emergency Treatment Fund has released a 2025 call for proposals that prioritizes “project‑ready” initiatives tackling urgent overdose and substance‑use needs defined by local communities, with a strong emphasis on trauma‑informed, culturally relevant, evidence‑based approaches. Both SUAP and the ETF function as RFAs, specifying content such as eligible activities, target populations, budgets and timelines in their public notices.
Examples of active or recent RFAs and grant calls
| Program / jurisdiction | Focus areas | Typical recipients |
|---|---|---|
| PHAC mental health & suicide‑prevention projects | Community mental health promotion, suicide prevention, priority populations. | NGOs, Indigenous orgs, communities |
| Youth Mental Health Fund (PHAC) | Youth mental health access, early supports, some suicide‑prevention components. | Youth‑serving agencies, partners |
| Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) | Substance‑use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, innovation. | Health orgs, NGOs, researchers |
| Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) | Overdose crisis response, urgent substance‑use services. | Provinces, territories, service orgs |
| NL Community Addictions Prevention & MH Promotion | Suicide prevention, life promotion, alcohol and other drug harm prevention. | Individuals, community groups, NGOs |
| Alberta Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Program | Youth suicide‑prevention services, training, awareness. | Community orgs, health partners |
What “RFA” means in the Canadian context
In Canadian practice, the language of “request for applications” (RFA) is less standardized than in U.S. federal funding; departments like PHAC and Health Canada usually refer to “funding opportunities,” “calls for proposals,” or “contribution funding opportunities.” Functionally, these work the same way as RFAs: they outline objectives, eligibility, assessment criteria and deadlines for organizations seeking funding.
If an article refers to “Canada announces RFAs for Suicide Prevention and Alcohol & Drug Prevention Grants,” it is almost certainly referring collectively to this cluster of PHAC mental health calls, SUAP/ETF substance‑use calls, and provincial grant announcements that are currently open or about to open, rather than to a single all‑in‑one federal program.
How to find and apply for these grants
Organizations interested in suicide‑prevention or alcohol and drug‑prevention funding should start with the official federal portals for health funding. PHAC and Health Canada list open contribution opportunities on Canada.ca, including applicant guides, forms and deadlines for mental health, suicide‑prevention and substance‑use projects. Provincial health ministry sites (for Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and others) post their own calls under mental health or addictions sections, often with simpler, community‑friendly application processes.
Because timelines and priorities vary, it is important to read each call closely, confirm whether your organization and target population fit the criteria, and tailor proposals to the specific outcomes and evaluation requirements outlined in the guide. Many RFAs explicitly prioritize Indigenous‑led initiatives, youth‑focused projects, and programs that address inequities for racialized or marginalized communities, so strong partnerships and meaningful engagement can significantly strengthen an application.
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FAQs
Q1: Has Canada launched one combined federal RFA for suicide and substance‑use prevention?
No. Multiple federal and provincial calls are open or expected—PHAC for mental health and suicide prevention, Health Canada for substance‑use programs, and provinces for community grants—but they operate as separate funding streams.
Q2: Where can organizations find official application details?
On Canada.ca under PHAC and Health Canada funding opportunities, and on provincial health ministry websites for programs like Saskatchewan’s suicide‑prevention grants, Alberta’s Youth Suicide Prevention Grant, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s Community Addictions Prevention grants.
Q3: Who is typically eligible to apply?
Eligibility varies by program but often includes non‑profit organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, community groups, health authorities, and sometimes municipalities or academic institutions proposing evidence‑based prevention or harm‑reduction projects.
