2025-2026 United Way WRC_Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 24
Mental Health
& Addictions
Mental health and well-being are essential to a
healthy, connected community, yet too many people
face barriers to getting the support they need.
Mental health and addiction challenges affect people of all
ages and backgrounds and can intersect with poverty,
housing instability, trauma, and social isolation. For many,
navigating the system or asking for help can feel
overwhelming. Access to timely, affordable, stigma-free,
and personalized care can make all the difference.
Together, we can break down barriers and help build a
community where everyone can access the mental health
and addiction support they need to thrive.
The Focus
Mental health / addiction
prevention & education
Crisis support
Harm reduction
Peer support
Individual and group counselling
Culturally grounded counselling
Specialized counselling and
supports
The Issues
According to the 2023
Youth Impact Survey
conducted through the
Children & Youth
Planning Table, only
55% of youth
described their mental
health as positive.
41,402
individuals accessed mental
health and/or addiction programs
and supports.
$274,000
was invested in mental health
and addiction programs and
supports.
70% of those
experiencing
homelessness who
participated in Waterloo
Region’s Point-in-Time
Count reported
experiencing mental
health challenges.
Long wait times,
affordability, transportation
barriers, and uncertainty
about where to seek help
continue to prevent many
people from accessing support
when they need it most.
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