Canadian Mental Health Association – Montreal Branch

What Canadian Mental Health Association – Montreal Branch does

The Canadian Mental Health Association – Montreal Branch (ACSM Filiale de Montréal) is a Quebec-registered nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1979 as the Montreal branch of the pan-Canadian CMHA network (national body founded 1918). The organization focuses on mental health promotion and prevention rather than clinical treatment, operating with a small core team of four staff (Executive Director, Mental Health Promotion Advisor, Training Coordinator, Communications & Events Manager) and a seven-member board of directors. Its programs address mental health literacy, stigma reduction, and coping/resilience skills across distinct population segments: youth aged 12-17 (Adap.t educational toolkit and the Télé-Québec 'On parle de santé mentale' web series), seniors (the ASDR 6-week workshop and 'Aging in Good Mental Health' training), immigrants and refugees (Se sentir bien dans sa nouvelle réalité), and the general Montreal public and workplaces (conferences, webinars, Mental Health Week, and the Je pratique la gentillesse campaign).

The portfolio is built on evidence-based pedagogical frameworks (social-emotional learning, recovery-oriented practice) rather than proprietary technology; the organization explicitly has no API, no digital platform, and no AI capability. The 8-hour Mental Health First Aid Fundamentals ($150-$225/person) and 16-hour MHFA Certification ($350-$450/person) — delivered under authorization from the Mental Health Commission of Canada with a 3-year national credential — anchor the training business. Complementary workshops (e.g., ASDR at $3,000 per 6-week cohort; immigrant workshop at $250-$500) are sold unit-by-unit to organizations and community groups.

Revenue is generated through four streams: fee-for-service training and conference registrations, annual membership dues (which include free CASR/Recovery College course access valued at $235), sales of educational materials via the Zeffy online shop, and donations/charitable fundraising (registered charity BN 106726920 RR0001). Distribution is via direct in-person/virtual delivery, school and public-health partnership channels (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Télé-Québec, Place des Arts), and the Zeffy e-commerce platform. The go-to-market model is community-led, relying on public health authority collaboration, employer and nonprofit partnerships, and annual awareness campaigns rather than direct sales or paid acquisition.

Name

Canadian Mental Health Association – Montreal Branch

Legal name

Association canadienne pour la santé mentale, Montréal

Website

https://acsmmontreal.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CMHA Montreal Branch is a Quebec-registered nonprofit charitable organization, founded 1979, that delivers mental health promotion and prevention programming — including Mental Health First Aid training, specialized workshops, and awareness campaigns — to youth, seniors, immigrants, and the broader Montreal community through public-health and education partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Education and Training

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFACAI

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment

SECONDARYEDAJAIAC

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs & Supports

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Student Health, Safety & Wellbeing Services (Counseling, Mental Health, SEL, Safeguarding)

SECONDARYEDAKAMAE

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Supports (School-Based)

SECONDARYEDAKAMAL

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Supports (School-Based)

SECONDARYEDAAAFAG

Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYBPAGADAK

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Mental health education
• Mental health first aid
• Community mental health
• Psychosocial training programs
• Nonprofit mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal, Québec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training and Program Fees: Revenue generated from fee-for-service training programs including Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Standard courses, conference fees, and educational workshops sold to organizations, community groups, and individuals.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees grant access to free or discounted training opportunities, including free CASR (Recovery College) course access valued at $235.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting mental health promotion activities. The organization is a registered charity (BN 106726920 RR0001) and conducts fundraising campaigns and events such as the Beneva Marathon.
4. Sales of Educational Materials: Sale of pedagogical materials including the Adap.t youth mental health educational fascicles, the lexicon, infographics, and other publications through the Zeffy online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CMHA Montreal Branch delivers mental health promotion and prevention education across the Montreal region. Its core offerings include Mental Health First Aid (PSSM) training in two tiers (8-hour Fundamentals and 16-hour Certification), interactive conferences and webinars, and specialized workshops targeting youth (ages 12-17), seniors, and immigrants/refugees. Programs are delivered in-person and virtually, supported by educational toolkits, an annual Mental Health Week, and the Je pratique la gentillesse kindness campaign.

Product overview

CMHA Montreal Branch operates as a mental health promotion and prevention organization offering a diverse portfolio of educational programs, training courses, conferences, and awareness campaigns targeting the Montreal population. The core offerings include two tiers of Mental Health First Aid (PSSM) training (8-hour Fundamentals and 16-hour Certification), interactive conferences on stress/anxiety and general mental health topics, and the CASR Recovery College partnership providing peer-informed educational courses. Specialized programming serves distinct populations: Adap.t (8-module educational toolkit) and the 'On parle de santé mentale' web series for youth (ages 12-17); the ASDR loneliness workshop and 'Aging in Good Mental Health' training for seniors; and the 'Feeling Well in Your New Reality' workshop for immigrants and refugees. Annual awareness initiatives include Mental Health Week and the 'I Practice Kindness' campaign. Supporting resources include the toolbox with lexicons and infographics, free webinars with expert collaborators, and published guides on housing as a determinant of mental health and intercultural relations in mental health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premiers secours en santé mentale (PSSM) – Fondamentaux An 8-hour foundational, non-certifying mental health first aid course that equips participants with basic knowledge and essential skills to recognize psychological distress and provide initial appropriate support; intended for the general public, employees, volunteers, and community settings.
• Premiers secours en santé mentale (PSSM) – Certification A 16-hour advanced certification course developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada providing deeper knowledge and practical skills in mental health first aid; participants must pass an online quiz to receive a 3-year certification valid across Canada.
• Conférence – Le stress et l'anxiété démystifiés An interactive conference that demystifies stress and anxiety, their mechanisms, manifestations, and effects on mental health in workplace and personal contexts; approved by the Quebec Bar for 1 hour of mandatory continuing education.
• Conférence – La santé mentale démystifiée An interactive conference accessible to all that answers frequently asked questions about mental health and helps participants develop concrete tools for well-being in social, family, and work environments.
• Accès aux formations CASR (Recovery College) Free access to Recovery College-style courses offered through partnership with the Centre d'apprentissage Santé et Rétablissement (CASR); peer-informed educational courses cover mental health, inclusion, stigma reduction, and recovery topics.
• Adap.t – Activités pédagogiques pour la santé mentale des jeunes An 8-module educational toolkit for school personnel and parents supporting youth mental health (ages 12-17), combining social-emotional learning with coping skills development across topics including mental health basics, stress management, self-esteem, emotions, self-talk, secondary school transition, and bullying prevention.
• On parle de santé mentale (Websérie) An educational web series broadcast on Télé-Québec addressing mental health topics relevant to teenagers (ages 13-17), covering approximately 34 episodes on subjects including anxiety, depression, self-harm, resilience, social media impact, and help-seeking.
• Formation Vieillir en bonne santé mentale A 3-hour training for caregivers, volunteers, and family members working with seniors that provides tools to recognize signs of psychological distress, understand aging challenges, and develop coping strategies and crisis management skills.
• Apprivoiser sa solitude et développer son réseau (ASDR) A 6-week workshop program for seniors aimed at improving well-being through maintaining autonomy and developing social support networks; includes presentations, interactive activities, and individual exercises.
• Se sentir bien dans sa nouvelle réalité A 1.5-hour workshop for immigrant and refugee populations addressing mental health challenges during immigration and adaptation, providing a space for sharing experiences and finding resources; created in partnership with Bell Cause pour la cause diversity fund.
• Semaine de la santé mentale An annual mental health awareness week (May 4-10, 2026, under the theme 'Rassemblons-nous, Montréal!') featuring virtual launches, workshops, film screenings, and webinars to promote social connections and mental well-being.
• Campagne Je pratique la gentillesse An annual kindness campaign (November 13-19) in partnership with Montréal's Direction régionale de santé publique promoting workplace kindness practices through events, downloadable toolkits, and social media engagement using #Jepratiquelagentillesse.
• Webinaires Regular free virtual conferences in collaboration with mental health experts covering topics such as schizophrenia, masculinity and mental health, recovery, discrimination and systemic racism, and women's mental health.
• Boîte à outils A collection of downloadable resources including a mental health lexicon, infographics on mental health basics, intervention methods, help-seeking, and supporting loved ones, plus the Adap.t youth program booklets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mental Health First Aid certification valid for 3 years upon successful completion of the 16-hour certification course
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centre d'apprentissage Santé et Rétablissement (CASR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA Montreal is a principal partner of the CASR, which operates under the Recovery College model. CMHA shares its mental health expertise and collaborates on course offerings, including co-facilitation with people having experiential knowledge. CMHA Montreal members receive free access to CASR courses (valued at $235).
• Direction régionale de santé publique de Montréal (CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the annual Je pratique la gentillesse campaign (since 2023) and the 5 à 7 workplace kindness event. The public health authority provides scientific guidance and amplifies campaign reach across Montreal's health ecosystem.
• Mental Health Commission of Canada (Commission de la santé mentale du Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA Montreal is an authorized provider of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Standard training created by the Commission. The Commission provides curriculum, certification standards, and quality assurance. CMHA Montreal offers both the 8-hour Fundamentals and the 16-hour Certification courses.
• Place des ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during Mental Health Week 2026 to present the Art adapté program, featuring artists with disabilities and/or mental health conditions. Showcases arts-based approaches to mental health and well-being.
• Festival du Film au ContraireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership during Mental Health Week 2026 for the 'Art + Santé mentale' program, featuring short film screenings exploring mental health themes, co-hosted at CMHA Montreal offices.
• CMHA National (Association canadienne pour la santé mentale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMHA Montreal is the Montreal branch of the national CMHA network, which was founded in 1918 and operates in over 135 communities across Canada. The national organization provides policy guidance, research, and program frameworks that CMHA Montreal adapts for the Montreal context.
• Télé-QuébeccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCMHA Montreal contributed content to the 'On parle de santé mentale' educational web series for teens (13-17 years), broadcast on Télé-Québec. The series covers 35 mental health topics relevant to youth and reaches a broad Quebec audience.
• Various Montreal organizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Week 2026 participation by organizations including podcasts (Panser l'entreprise, Calme Toi les OBNL changent le monde), ASPQ (Ça se cultive toolkit), Aéroports de Montréal (occupational health fair), among others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Douglas Mental Health University Institute: Montreal-based academic mental health institution providing clinical care, research, and community education. Overlaps with CMHA Montreal on mental health literacy and stigma-reduction initiatives in the Montreal market.
• Mental Health Commission of Canada: National policy and standards body that created the Mental Health First Aid curriculum CMHA Montreal is authorized to deliver. Operates at a national scale across research, policy, and program frameworks.

Direct peers

• Revivre: Quebec nonprofit focused on anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, delivering peer support, education, and awareness programs. Directly comparable in offering community-based mental health education and stigma-reduction services in Quebec.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA National): The parent federation of which CMHA Montreal is a branch, also providing direct mental health services, policy advocacy, and educational programming across Canada. Operates the same MHFA curriculum and brand framework that CMHA Montreal delivers locally.
• Schizophrenia Society of Quebec / Société québécoise de la schizophrénie: Quebec nonprofit providing mental health education, family support, and public awareness on psychosis-related conditions. Collaborates with CMHA Montreal on webinars and shares a comparable community education and advocacy model.
• AMI-Québec (Action on Mental Illness): Quebec-based nonprofit offering mental health education, support groups, and stigma-reduction programming for individuals and families affected by mental illness — directly comparable community mental health promotion and prevention mission.

Emerging players

• Headspace (Headspace Health): Global digital mental health platform offering mindfulness, meditation, and mental health education content. Competes with CMHA Montreal's community-based mental health literacy programs via an app-based, lower-cost distribution model.
• Centre d'apprentissage Santé et Rétablissement (CASR): Quebec Recovery College offering peer-informed mental health educational courses, with which CMHA Montreal has a formal partnership granting members free course access. Directly comparable course-based educational model.

Regional players

• L'Appui pour les proches aidants: Quebec nonprofit supporting caregivers, including those caring for older adults with mental health needs. Comparable in delivering training and resources to caregivers and seniors — overlapping with CMHA Montreal's Vieillir en bonne santé mentale offering.
• Tel-jeunes / LigneParents: Quebec-based youth support service offering helpline, texting support, and educational resources for youth mental health. Comparable Quebec-specific youth mental health mission, complementary to CMHA Montreal's Adap.t and web series.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@acsmmontreal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-canadienne-pour-la-sante-mentale-filiale-de-montreal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Canadian Mental Health Association – Montreal Branch