Post-secondary bursary for youth
We know the teen years are when mental health and substance use problems often show up for the first time, and that this can get in the way of school and career goals.
Offered as part of the Blue Wave youth mental health program, this post-secondary bursary program is open to BC youth under the age of 20 who have experienced a significant mental health or substance use problem. The vision of the bursary program is to invest in the resilience, wisdom and potential of young people, and to reduce some of the barriers during the transition from high school to higher education.
Several bursaries of $700 are awarded each year. Applicants are asked to write a letter of hope and encouragement to other youth who may be struggling. Read past letters from applicants.
Am I eligible?
You’re eligible if you:
- Have experienced a significant mental health or substance use problem and are accessing treatment and support
- Can demonstrate financial need
- Are under the age of 20 at the time you apply
- Have lived in BC for at least a year from the date of your application
- Are not enrolling or enrolled in a government-sponsored job training program
- Will be enrolled in first year studies at a recognized BC university, college, or technical institute by January 1 of the year after you are applying.
What else should I know?
- Distance learning is permitted as long as the institution is an accredited BC post-secondary institution
- The bursary award is only applicable toward a semester’s worth of tuition, books, and mandatory course supplies or equipment, which is paid directly to the institution identified in the application
- Only electronic submissions will be accepted (submissions received by mail or fax will be disqualified)
- Incomplete applications will have points deducted or be disqualified
- Applications with attachments that are longer than requested (e.g., reference letters longer than one page each) will have points deducted or be disqualified
- Applications that provide more documentation than requested (e.g., more than two reference letters) will have points deducted or be disqualified
Applicants awarded a bursary who are unable to confirm enrolment by January 1 following the date they are awarded the bursary will be asked to provide additional documentation to support their extenuating circumstances - Changes to recipients’ course or program between the time of award notification and the beginning of the course or program must be discussed with the selection committee in order to remain eligible for the original application
- The recipients’ given names and a brief outline of their educational / career goals will appear in CMHA communications, including our websites, e-newsletters, and annual report, any of which may be indexed by search engines
- We will only use applicants’ contact information for the purpose of eligibility, to communicate about the status of the application, or to subscribe them to e-newsletter mailing lists at their request
- The selection committee will evaluate all submissions that meet these requirements
- The decisions of the committee are final
- By signing the online application form you agree to these conditions