Introducing the National Young Carer Support List

By Camryn

Launch of the National Young Carer Support List 

Across Canada, at least 1.5 million young people balance school, work, and relationships while also caring for a family member or friend living with illness, disability, substance use, or age-related challenges. Young carers are generally understood as “young people who take on important responsibilities and support a family member or friend living with a chronic illness, disability (physical and/or intellectual), mental health concern, substance misuse, parental absence, or other social or cultural factors (e.g., language barrier)” (Norman, 2024; p. 39). There is substantial research that references the short and long-term challenges experienced by young carers, which impact them academically, socially, and professionally (Stamatopoulos, 2018). Young carers express experiencing stress, loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and difficulties relating to peers (Young Caregivers Association). In a research study by Lakman and colleagues (2017), 68% of young carers reported fearing they will do poorly in school because of their care work. Despite the responsibilities they shoulder, young carers remain one of the most overlooked and underserved groups in the country. Many don’t even realize that the support they provide is caregiving, let alone that they have a right to easily accessible, quality resources and support (Joseph et al., 2020; Norman, 2024). 

To help address this gap, the Young Caregiver Council of Canada is proud to announce the launch of a new, curated list of supports, including resources specifically designed for young carers. This collection brings together national programs and information hubs, resources available in each province and territory, and youth mental-health services. The Our goal was to collect these resources and translate them into one accessible, centralized tool. We still have a long way to go, and will continue to add more resources as we identify them. However, this list represents a significant step toward making sure young carers—no matter where they live—have a starting point for finding the support they need.

The National Young Carer Support List is the result of a shared vision: to give young carers a straightforward place to start looking for supports. Young carers hold critical wisdom about what supports are missing (Norman & Jones, 2026). As a Council, we’re taking action. Built by young carers, for young carers, this list identifies the gaps we experience and offers real pathways to help. Council members have either used these resources, contributed to making them, spent time searching for them, or wished they knew about them sooner. 

The list includes across-Canada services from across Canada that offer specific young carer supports, general carer support, crisis lines, online peer communities, and educational tools. It also breaks down resources by province and territory, recognizing that support systems vary widely depending on where a young carer lives. From local respite programs to community-based initiatives, each region-specific section highlights what is currently available and where young carers can reach out for guidance.

Another essential component of the resource list is the collection of youth mental-health supports. Young carers often experience multiple challenges in their care work and roles. Many take up significant responsibilities long before their peers, all while trying to navigate their own lives. Ensuring young carers have direct access to mental-health services (such as crisis lines, youth counseling, chat supports, and culturally relevant mental-health tools) was a priority. Supporting a loved one should not come at the cost of a young person’s own well-being.

Importantly, this resource list is living. It is meant to grow and evolve over time, reflecting the changing landscape of young carer supports across the country. The Council acknowledges that the number of young carer specific resources in Canada remains limited, but this launch is an essential first step in building visibility, raising awareness, and encouraging service providers to consider the needs of this group. It is our hope to expand this list to include different types of resources, such as Government financial supports, local community and grassroots services, and supports specific to different reasons for care. The Council aims to expand the audiences of this list, including curating more tailored support lists for healthcare professionals, child and youth care professionals, emergency service professionals, educators, and more to learn about young carers and what professionals can do to support them. As new programs emerge, partnerships form, and awareness expands, the list will continue to be updated to ensure it remains relevant, intersectional, and comprehensive.

The Young Caregiver Council of Canada hopes this tool becomes a trusted starting point — one that helps young carers recognize their role, understand their rights, and discover supports to guide them along their care journeys. By launching this list, we affirm a simple but powerful message: Young carers matter, and they deserve support.

This is only the beginning. Together, we can build a more informed, compassionate, and inclusive Canada that values and supports young carers. 

References

Joseph, S., Sempik, J., Leu, A., & Becker, S. (2019). Young carers research, practice and policy: An overview and critical perspective on possible future directions. Adolescent Research Review, 5(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-019-00119-9 

Lakman, Y., Chalmers, H. & Sexton, C. (2017). Young Carers’ Educational Experiences and Support: A Roadmap for the Development of School Policies to Foster Their Academic Success. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 63(1), 63 74. 

Norman, R. A. (2024). A Guide to Supporting Young Carers Through Relational Leisure and Practice. Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, 3(7), 38-60.

Norman, R. A. & Jones, C. T. (in press, 2025). Young Carers’ Crip Wisdom: A Canadian Case. In Erdal, C., and Kennelly, J., De Gruyter Handbook of Youth Activism.

Stamatopoulos, V. (2018). The young carer penalty: Exploring the costs of caregiving among a sample of Canadian youth. Child & Youth Services, 39(2 3), 80 205. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2018.1491303 

Young Caregivers Association. Who Are Young Caregivers? (Accessed November 1, 2025). https://youngcaregivers.ca/fr/who-are-young-caregivers/