Canadian Nurses Foundation · National
CNSA Mental Health Award
About this award
Get $750 for your mental health advocacy work if you are a Canadian nursing student enrolled in a CNSA chapter school.
You can receive a $750 grant for this award. As a grant, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have spent your time advocating for mental health as part of your personal journey, education, or professional practice. Applications open each December and close in late January for the following academic year. No specific date or time zone is posted publicly — before you start the application, check the Canadian Nurses Foundation (CNF — the national organization providing financial support to nurses) program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will hear back through the application portal. Winners are chosen based on merit by the CNF awards committee. They give out over 135 scholarships per year across all tiers, but they do not publish exactly how many students win this specific mental health award — ask the CNF how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask the Canadian Nurses Foundation during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with the Canadian Nurses Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.
Can you get it?
- Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident — citizenship requirement
- Undergraduate — study level
- Studying nursing — field of study
How to apply
Review eligibility and gather your documents~1 hour
Read the official award page end-to-end. Confirm you meet every requirement before you start.
Submit by No deadline~1 hour
Double-check every field, save a copy, and submit at least 24 hours early.
More details
The biggest mistake is listing a class project or a required clinical rotation.
Winners instead highlight volunteer work or community initiatives they started independently.
List the specific hours and outcomes of your mental health advocacy from the last year.
The biggest mistake is providing a generic character reference.
Winners instead secure a letter from a mental health organization leader who can verify your impact.
Get a signed letter on official letterhead that describes your specific contributions.