Parachute expands across Quebec

We are announcing a $375,000 grant from the Government of Quebec to fund Le Parachute, a mental health support initiative for entrepreneurs in Quebec.

Parachute's funding allows this initiative, which began in 2020 in the Capitale-Nationale region thanks to a network of entrepreneur support organizations and its two main architects, Entrepreneuriat ULaval and Apollo13, to be scaled up across Quebec.

Parachute is an initiative aimed at better supporting and promoting the psychological capital of innovative entrepreneurs and those who support them, focusing on three areas of action.

1. Awareness-raising, to increase awareness of the mental health of the people behind innovative companies, through awareness-raising and educational content and by holding local awareness-raising activities across Quebec.
2. working with innovative entrepreneurs and support professionals, in particular by creating peer support groups and training programs and by establishing mechanisms for direct and rapid access to professional mental health services
3. Consultation with those concerned with the psychological health of innovative entrepreneurs, particularly during a unifying event, so that it is recognized as a strategic asset rather than a source of risk.

Funding from the Quebec government is in addition to financial support from the City of Quebec, where Parachute's local initiatives will continue to have a significant impact on entrepreneurs in the Capitale-Nationale region.

To learn more about Le Parachute, or if you would like to get involved in making this initiative a success, visit: https://mainqc.com/parachute

"In addition to the challenges inherent in being an entrepreneur, the last few years have been an economic roller coaster. It's clear that many of them have not had it easy. I often say that overall health begins with good mental health. A healthy business environment therefore begins with entrepreneurs who are mentally healthy. I am delighted with the launch of the Parachute initiative and this network's commitment to the psychological well-being of local entrepreneurs," said Lionel Carmant, Minister Responsible for Social Services.

"The success of an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem depends on the launch of a large number of entrepreneurial projects, many of which are known in advance to fail. However, we must also ensure that neither the failure of these businesses nor the enormous pressure on those who run them prevents entrepreneurs who dare to continue trying with the same enthusiasm as when they first started out. The Parachute will support our innovative entrepreneurs in their trials and seek to raise awareness that their health is a strategic asset as important to their success as financing, support resources, or intellectual property assets," says Louis-Félix Binette, Executive Director of MAIN.

"The current paradigm of mental health among entrepreneurs must change. For too long, the myth of the 'superhero' entrepreneur, capable of overcoming all obstacles without ever faltering, has been the standard. This image is not only unrealistic, but also contributes to a culture of silence around real psychological and emotional challenges, particularly in the startup world," says Valérie Hénaire, Executive Director of Quantino, a member organization of the Le Parachute collective created in 2020 in Quebec City.