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EDMONTON — Alberta is allocating $69 million to help schools manage rising classroom complexity linked to student mental health needs.
The province says the funding, spread over three years through the Mental Health and Well-Being Grant, will give school boards new tools to support students and reduce pressure on classroom staff. Officials say mental health challenges are contributing to increasingly complicated learning environments across Alberta.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the investment is meant to strengthen support systems and improve daily learning conditions. “When students’ mental health needs aren’t met, classrooms become more complex. This money will give schools the tools they need to support student mental health, helping to reduce complexity and create a better learning environment for everyone,” he said.
The grant program is funded through Budget 2025 and is part of the province’s broader work on class size, aggression in schools and mental health concerns. The government says mental wellness is directly tied to academic success and overall student development.
Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson said the funding aligns with a provincial plan to expand in-school mental health services. “Improving youth mental health is critically important. This investment will complement our commitment to establish up to 60 CASA Classrooms across the province by 2027, with 25 already supporting students with complex mental health needs,” he said.
School boards will be able to use the money to increase access to mental wellness programs, hire trained staff, improve early intervention and connect students with outside services. Funding can support classroom-based social-emotional learning, trauma-informed training for staff, and hiring navigators, wellness coaches or counsellors. Up to 20 percent of the grant can go to individualized services such as counselling, clinical assessments or specialized behaviour support.
Sandra Palazzo, board chair for Edmonton Catholic Schools, said the new funding will help educators respond more effectively to student needs. “Students with positive mental health and well-being are more ready to learn and to engage in educational experiences. This funding will support us in enhancing our services and supports to be more responsive and to better nurture the holistic development of all students,” she said.
School boards will be required to report annually on how the funds are used and the impact on student well-being.
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