Barrier-Free Mental Health Support for Young Adults

The $4,000 investment from the Field Law Community Fund Program made a meaningful difference by supporting barrier-free mental health counselling for young adults aged 18 to 29 in Calgary and the surrounding area. This funding allowed for 80 counselling sessions to be delivered with no waitlists, no referrals, and no financial barriers – ensuring timely, professional mental health support was available when it was needed most.

The program directly supported young adults navigating the many challenges of early adulthood, including school, employment, and relationships. Many of these individuals were struggling with anxiety, depression, and stress, compounded by financial pressures, social isolation, and uncertainty about the future. With Field Law’s support, they were able to access counselling that would have otherwise been out of reach due to cost or long wait times for public services.

This initiative addressed a critical gap in mental health services for young adults in the Calgary area. With high living costs and limited access to free support, many were forced to go without help. This program helped fill that void – offering professional, accessible counselling that met people where they were, before issues escalated further.

The impact of this support was both immediate and far-reaching. Directly, young adults gained coping tools and strategies to manage anxiety, depression, and stress, which improved their overall wellbeing. Indirectly, the benefits rippled outward – helping them show up more fully in their families, workplaces, and communities. The resiliency and problem-solving skills they developed will continue to serve them and those around them in the long term.

In 2023, our counsellors delivered 13,234 sessions to 2,158 clients aged 18 to 29. Of those, 9,207 sessions were for 1,416 young adults who would not have been able to afford counselling without subsidized support. Our data shows that 95.5% of these clients received services they otherwise could not access – a powerful reminder of how community funding helps close the gap in mental health care.

“CCC helped me gain so much confidence in coping with the challenges in my life. I’ve learned to
develop mindful habits to help take care of both my physical and mental health. It has brought
a new level of self-awareness and genuine care towards the relationship I have with myself and
others.”- Martina, 18

“It is great that there is an option for affordable Counselling in Calgary, it was the only way I
could afford to do this and doing this was so important for my mental health. I was lucky to
hear about this service from a friend.” – Indira, age 23

“Affordable counselling has been critical for me to be able to attend counselling consistently.” –
Leif, age 25

“Calgary Counselling Centre has been the best counselling service. I’m grateful for the sliding scale.”
– Morgan, 24