On October 8th, 2025, Breakthrough T1D Canada hosted a virtual summit for its 2023 Mental Health and T1D Community Grants, bringing together project leads, community members, donors, volunteers, staff, and advisors from across the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. The event served as a space to share, celebrate, and reflect on the impact of the inaugural round of grants, and to highlight the innovative ways organizations are addressing mental health in T1D.
A highlight reel from the Summit can be viewed below:
Launched as part of Breakthrough T1D’s Mental Health Strategy, this program supports organizations across Canada that are developing community-led approaches to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by T1D. Five outstanding projects supported through the inaugural grants competition were showcased at the summit:
- Connected in Motion – Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Integration into Slipstream Programming
Connected in Motion introduced a dedicated mental health stream within their Slipstream retreats and virtual gatherings. This gave adults with T1D more opportunities to discuss topics like burnout, body image, and family planning in safe, supportive spaces. More than 300 participants took part in 2024 programs, showing the value of integrating mental health support into community experiences. - Pineapple Therapy & Edmonton Diabetes & High Risk Foot Clinic – CuriosiT1D: Getting Curious about Diabetes & Mental Health
Breakthrough T1D’s support enabled the creation of CuriosiT1D, is a self-paced online course designed for adults with T1D including videos and practical tools rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Its content helps normalize common struggles like anxiety and burnout, while offering strategies to help improve emotional regulation. Participants of this new course shared that it provided useful tools for managing difficult thoughts and emotions, a clearer understanding of the mental health–diabetes connection, and some relief from feeling overwhelmed. - Université de Montréal – Bien dans ma tête avec le diabète
This project created short, engaging French-language videos blending lived experience and clinical expertise on mental health in T1D. Humorous and relatable in style, the videos aim to reduce stigma, spark conversations, and provide trustworthy resources. The series will launch in November 2025, with plans for an English version to follow. - McGill University & Gold Bug Interactive – The Game Plan Webcomic
The Game Plan is a webcomic for children and youth showcasing the emotional realities of adjusting to and living with T1D, developed through interviews and lived experience. Readers described it as powerful and validating, noting it helped them feel less isolated and more hopeful. The project visually demonstrates how storytelling can be a transformative tool of mental health support. - Langs – Enhancing Resiliency for Families Living with T1D through Empowering Mental Health Programs
Langs, a community hub providing a range of health and community supports services based in Southern Ontario, developed and delivered a suite of new familyand community-based programs including arts therapy groups, peer support events, and outdoor activities. These initiatives helped families strengthen resilience, improve confidence, and build meaningful connections. Feedback showed participants valued having safe, supportive spaces to share and learn together.
Throughout the summit, a common theme emerged: the power of community and connection in addressing mental health with T1D. Attendees voiced their appreciation for the creativity and courage of the projects—one participant noted that “even changing the course of the life of one person is worthwhile,” while another emphasized how these initiatives will “help break isolation and remind people they’re not alone.”
“The success of our inaugural Mental Health & T1D Community Grants program is a powerful testament to what’s possible when we invest in community-led innovation,”said Dr. Sarah Linklater, Chief Scientific Officer for Breakthrough T1D Canada. “We are inspired by the courage and creativity shown by our grant recipients, and the early impact of their projects. We remain committed to expanding mental health supports for the T1D community in the years ahead,” she continues
As Breakthrough T1D Canada looks ahead, we remain committed to investing in programs that put mental health and well-being at the forefront of support for people living with T1D. The success of this first round of grants shows what’s possible when community expertise, lived experience, and collaboration come together—and it is only the beginning. We are pleased to share that a new round of Mental Health and T1D Community Grants has now launched, continuing our commitment to expand resources and support for the T1D community. We look forward to sharing news of the projects will support next through this program in 2026
