Mental Health Foundation

What Mental Health Foundation does

The Mental Health Foundation is a registered Canadian charitable organization headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, that raises and disburses funds to support mental health and addiction programs and services across the province. Founded in 1998 (per firmographic data) and operating under CRA Registration Number 821577673 RR 0001, the foundation acts as Alberta's dedicated mental health charity, channeling donations toward an integrated portfolio that spans crisis intervention, youth mental health, hospital-based psychiatric care, specialized treatments, and community outreach. Rather than operating services directly in most cases, the foundation funds partners and runs targeted programs that complement the publicly funded system.

The foundation underwrites a distinct portfolio of programs. Access 24/7 delivers adult mental health and addiction intake, crisis intervention, and referrals via phone and in-person at the Edmonton Community Health Hub North, in coordination with Alberta Health Services. Kickstand and the virtual Kickstand Connect provide free integrated mental health services, including 1:1 counselling, peer support, groups, workshops, and employment support, for youth ages 12-25, operated by YMCA of Northern Alberta. The Day Hospital Program offers an interdisciplinary alternative to inpatient admission at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is supported as a non-invasive option for treatment-resistant depression. The Little Things program supplies items such as food, diapers, and hygiene products to approximately 500 vulnerable Edmontonians via an Alberta Health Services street team. A suite of SMS-based CBT programs extends reach beyond physical facilities: Text4Hope (general population), Text4Amal (Arabic), Hope4Ukraine (English, Ukrainian, Russian, French), MoreGoodDays (youth), and Wellness4MDs (physicians, trainees, and medical students).

The foundation raises funds through individual donations (one-time, monthly, legacy, holiday, in-celebration, and vehicle), corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events including the Annual Fundraising Breakfast, golf tournaments, fitness events, and community gatherings. Donation amplification mechanisms include the Rogers Birdies for Kids program presented by AltaLink, which matches donations up to 50%, and the Power of a Thousand campaign with the Edmonton Construction Association targeting $1,000,000 for Alberta Hospital Edmonton renovations. Distribution of funded services relies on healthcare provider partnerships (Alberta Health Services), community organization partnerships (YMCA of Northern Alberta, regional Co-ops), and digital/SMS channels accessible to any cell phone user, rather than traditional direct delivery.

Name

Mental Health Foundation

Legal name

Mental Health Foundation

Website

https://mentalhealthfoundation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Mental Health Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that funds and supports mental health and addiction programs across Alberta, including crisis services (Access 24/7), youth mental health (Kickstand), Alberta Hospital Edmonton, rTMS, and text-based CBT programs for diverse populations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Mental health charity
• Nonprofit healthcare funding
• Addiction support services
• Community mental wellness
• Youth mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation receives donations from individuals through one-time contributions, monthly giving programs, holiday giving, gifts in celebration/memory, legacy giving, and vehicle donations. Donors can contribute through the website or at fundraising events.
2. Corporate Fundraising Events: Corporate partners host fundraising events (golf tournaments, concerts, BBQs, fitness events) with proceeds donated to the foundation. The foundation also benefits from corporate matching programs and sponsorships.
3. Campaign Fundraising: The Power of a Thousand campaign invites 1000 ECA member organizations to each contribute $1000, aiming for a collective total of $1,000,000 for Alberta Hospital Edmonton renovations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Mental Health Foundation raises funds through donations, signature events, corporate partnerships, and matching programs, then channels those funds as grants to support mental health and addictions programs across Alberta. The funded portfolio covers adult intake services (Access 24/7), integrated youth mental health services (Kickstand and Kickstand Connect), text-based CBT programs (Text4Hope, Text4Amal, Hope4Ukraine, More Good Days, Wellness4MDs), facility and treatment enhancements at Alberta Hospital Edmonton (including rTMS and the Day Hospital Program), and outreach such as the Little Things program. End-beneficiaries access the funded programs free of charge through partner healthcare providers and community organizations.

Product overview

Mental Health Foundation is a charitable organization funding mental health and addiction programs and services across Alberta. The organization supports a portfolio of distinct services including: Kickstand and Kickstand Connect (integrated mental health services for youth ages 12-25), Access 24/7 (adult intake services), and multiple text-based messaging programs (Text4Hope, Text4Amal, Hope4Ukraine, More Good Days, Wellness4MDs). Additionally, the Foundation supports healthcare facilities including Alberta Hospital Edmonton, specialized treatments like rTMS, and programs such as the Day Hospital Program and Little Things street outreach. The Power of a Thousand is a major fundraising campaign for facility renovations. These offerings operate as separate but complementary programs rather than a unified platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kickstand: Free integrated mental health services for young people ages 12-25 in Alberta. Includes virtual clinic services, 1:1 counseling, peer support, groups and workshops.
• Kickstand Connect
• Access 24/7
• Text4Hope
• Text4Amal
• Hope4Ukraine
• MoreGoodDays
• Wellness4MDs

Products and services

• Kickstand & Kickstand Connect Free integrated mental health services for young people ages 12-25 in Alberta, provided through the Mental Health Foundation's partnership with Kickstand, operated by YMCA of Northern Alberta. Kickstand Connect is a virtual clinic offering 1:1 mental health and substance use counselling, peer support sessions, groups and workshops, and employment support, designed as a one-stop-shop for youth mental health resources across the province.
• Access 24/7 Adult mental health and addiction intake services funded by the Mental Health Foundation and available over the phone or in-person at Edmonton Community Health Hub North. Provides interventions, treatment, crisis outreach, assessment, and referrals 24/7 for adults seeking mental health and addiction services in Alberta.
• Text4Hope Free service providing daily supportive text messages written by mental health therapists based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles, designed to help Albertans identify and adjust negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in stressful times. Demonstrated 22.7% reduction in anxiety, 10.4% reduction in depression, and 5.7% reduction in stress at the three-month mark.
• Text4Amal Free supportive texting program for the Arabic community in Canada, providing daily messages in Arabic using evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tools.
• Hope4Ukraine Multi-lingual text-based mental health resource providing daily supportive messages in English, Ukrainian, Russian, and French for Canadians affected by the war in Ukraine.
• More Good Days Mental wellness messaging service delivering daily advice and inspiration to young people's phones using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy principles. Demonstrated to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression by as much as 25%.
• Wellness4MDs Text-based service providing mental health support for medical professionals including physicians, postgraduate medical trainees, and medical students. Delivers daily supportive text messages using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mental health literacy information tailored for physicians.
• Alberta Hospital Edmonton (AHE) Program Support Foundation-funded enhancements and programs at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, a fully accredited psychiatric hospital operating under Alberta Health Services. The foundation supports inpatient and outpatient programs providing assessment, diagnosis, treatment, consultation, and education for mental health and substance use challenges, including specialized youth addiction services, Indigenous support services, and the Day Hospital Program.
• rTMS (Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Non-invasive brain stimulation procedure using magnets to stimulate targeted areas of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, funded by the Mental Health Foundation at Alberta Hospital Edmonton for patients with treatment-resistant depression. Painless treatment virtually free of side effects.
• Day Hospital Program Cost-effective alternative to hospital admission at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and the first of its kind in the Edmonton Zone. Foundation-funded interdisciplinary team supports patients in individual and group settings seven days a week.
• Little Things Foundation-funded support program providing items such as teddy bears, food, sunscreen, diapers, and water to nearly 500 vulnerable Edmontonians who otherwise would go without health care. Supports a dedicated medical street team at Alberta Health Services.
• Lunch & Learn Series Free virtual webinars facilitated by accredited mental health professionals providing valuable skills and resources to manage stress, improve resilience, and maintain mental well-being, available to corporate partners such as Edmonton Construction Association members and the broader Alberta community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Text4Hope demonstrated 22.7% reduction in anxiety, 10.4% reduction in depression, and 5.7% reduction in stress at three-month mark
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YMCA of Northern AlbertacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 9 March 2026YMCA of Northern Alberta operates Kickstand Edmonton, celebrating its first year of providing free mental health and well-being services to youth ages 11-25 at a West Edmonton Mall location. Leadership from YMCA and the foundation participated in milestone celebrations.
• Kickstand (operated by YMCA of Northern Alberta)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKickstand offers free integrated mental health services for young people ages 12-25 in Alberta. The Mental Health Foundation partners with Kickstand to ensure mental health and addictions services for youth are easy to access across the province. Kickstand provides 1:1 counselling, peer support, groups, workshops, and employment support through both in-person and virtual services (Kickstand Connect).
• Alberta Blue CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Blue Cross partnered with Kickstand to launch MoreGoodDays, a mental wellness messaging service delivering daily advice and inspiration to young people's phones. Alberta Blue Cross funds the MoreGoodDays program through donations to the foundation.
• Bell MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBell Media supports Kickstand as a partner, providing media support for youth mental health awareness initiatives.
• Canadian Arab InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Canadian Arab Institute collaborated with the foundation and RBC Foundation to launch Text4Amal, a free supportive texting program for the Arabic community in Canada. The institute helps reach a wider audience through its network.
• Edmonton Construction Association (ECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA partnered with the foundation on the Power of a Thousand campaign, inviting all 1000 member organizations to each contribute $1000 for a collective goal of $1,000,000 to renovate Alberta Hospital Edmonton. ECA members also receive access to Lunch and Learn sessions and mental health resources.
• Central Alberta Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Alberta Co-op partnership funds services including Move Your Mood program at Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence, Opioid Dependency Program group programming, and Transform through Nature outdoor activities for youth.
• Cornerstone Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone Co-op partnership provides mental health supports for children, youth, adults, and seniors including food insecurity support, coping toolkits, recreation passes, and postpartum programs.
• New Horizon Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Horizon Co-op partnership funds spiritual and recreational enhancement at Northern Addictions Center and mental health office facility upgrades in Fairview.
• Westview Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestview Co-op partnership supports addiction and mental health treatment through transportation assistance for rural clients and Community Kitchen programs.
• South Country Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Country Co-op partnership provides personal hygiene and therapeutic items for Medicine Hat Recovery Centre and mental health first aid training for first responders.
• Wildrose Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildrose Co-op partnership supports growing protective factors in Viking area through grocery cards, fuel cards, recreation passes, and one-on-one assistance for vulnerable clients.
• Alberta Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Hospital Edmonton operates under Alberta Health Services as a fully accredited psychiatric hospital. The foundation funds programs and services at AHE to enhance patient care.
• University of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Vincent Agyapong, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Alberta, leads Hope4Ukraine and other text-based mental health programs. The university is also involved in 3MDR research collaboration with AHE.
• Dalhousie UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Vincent Agyapong is Professor of Psychiatry and Global Mental Health and Department Head for Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. He leads Wellness4MDs program development.
• Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLinkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBirdies for Kids matches donations up to 50%, effectively increasing donor impact. Events like Move for Mental Health partner with this initiative to maximize fundraising results.
• Co-op (community co-ops throughout Alberta)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple Alberta Co-op partners fund mental health programs in their communities, including Wildrose Co-op, South Country Co-op, Westview Co-op, New Horizon Co-op, Cornerstone Co-op, and Central Alberta Co-op.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jack.org: Canadian charity training young leaders to revolutionize mental health and funding youth mental health programs nationwide. Directly comparable as a peer youth-focused mental health charity with similar peer-support, education, and community mobilization models.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): National charitable organization providing mental health advocacy, programs, and resources across Canada. Directly comparable as a peer mental health charity funding community-based services and education, with provincial divisions operating in similar fashion to the Mental Health Foundation in Alberta.
• Kids Help Phone: Canada's only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, confidential support to young people. Directly comparable as a charity funding youth mental health services including 1:1 counselling, peer support, and crisis intervention — overlapping with Kickstand and Text4Hope.
• Schizophrenia Society of Canada: National charitable organization funding research, education, and support for people affected by schizophrenia and psychosis. Comparable as a peer mental health condition-specific charity with similar donation-driven funding model and educational program portfolio.

Regional players

• Coast Mental Health: BC-based charitable organization providing housing, supported employment, and rehabilitation services for people with mental illness. Comparable as a peer community mental health charity with similar service model and donation-driven revenue, though regionally focused on British Columbia.
• Mood Disorders Association of Ontario: Provincial charity providing support groups, education, and resources for people affected by mood disorders. Comparable as a peer condition-focused mental health charity with peer-support and education programs, though operating primarily in Ontario.
• BC Mental Health Foundation: Provincial mental health charity funding research, education, and programs across British Columbia. Comparable as a peer regional mental health foundation with similar fundraising model and portfolio of grant-funded programs, but operating in a different geography.

Emerging players

• Wellness Together Canada: Government-funded portal offering free mental health and substance use support including text-based counselling and self-guided programs. Comparable as a peer provider of free digital/text-based mental health supports directly competing with Text4Hope and MoreGoodDays messaging services.
• Foundry Central Office: BC-based integrated youth and young adult mental health service network providing counselling, peer support, and primary care. Comparable as a peer integrated youth mental health service model, with overlap on free counselling, peer support, and virtual service delivery akin to Kickstand Connect.

Broad incumbents

• CAMH Foundation: Foundation arm of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital. Comparable as a fundraising entity supporting psychiatric hospital operations, research, and clinical innovation, but at much larger scale and national scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCc9i_8-GroGgIFLuDZ3va8A
• Facebookfacebook.com/mentalhealthalberta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mentalhealthab
• Instagraminstagram.com/mentalhealthab
• Xx.com/MentalHealthAB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mental Health Foundation