Janice Lee Blue Wave Youth Bursary

What you will need

• ✓ Electronic submission only (submissions by mail or fax are disqualified)
• ✓ One application per year across all CMHA British Columbia awards (only your first application is evaluated)

About this award

You can receive one of two $700 bursaries. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep — there is nothing to repay. This is for you if you are a young student in British Columbia who has navigated the difficulties of a significant mental health or substance use challenge. Applications for the 2026 CMHA (the Canadian Mental Health Association) British Columbia scholarship and bursary awards have closed. The awards are offered each year, so check CMHA British Columbia's page for when the next round opens. Only electronic submissions are accepted. When you apply, ask how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. Selection criteria aren't published — ask CMHA British Columbia how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask CMHA British Columbia 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, but there is a specific waiting period. If you have won this award, you must wait two years before reapplying, which makes you eligible again in the third year after winning.

Who qualifies

You must be a post-secondary student in British Columbia under the age of 20. You must have experienced a significant mental health or substance use challenge. You can only apply for one award from the CMHA British Columbia list in a given year.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to college, undergraduate or trades students
• ✓ Resident of British Columbia
• ✓ Studying mental health

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Check this year's deadline

   We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's official page will have it.

Tips for applying

• Mental Health HistoryAvoid providing a vague summary of your challenges. Instead, describe the specific impact your mental health or substance use challenge had on your life and how you managed it. Focus on your resilience.
• SupportAvoid submitting your application without checking the technical requirements. Instead, ensure your file is in a compatible electronic format. Double-check that your upload finished successfully.
• StrategyAvoid applying for multiple awards from the same organization in one year. Instead, choose the one award that best fits your specific situation. Applying for more than one will result in only your first submission being evaluated.
• RealismAvoid expecting an immediate turnaround after the deadline. Instead, remember that these are limited awards — only two are available. Plan your budget assuming you might not receive the funds.

Questions students ask

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