“Troubling, but not surprising.” The State of Mental Health in Canda Report is Alarming

Through a first-of-its-kind report, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is providing an in-depth look at the mental health system in Canada—a concerning read as a growing number of citizens face mental health and substance use problems in our country —and how people are faring, in every province and territory.

Among the findings of The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 is that no jurisdiction is spending enough on mental health, in part because they’re not obliged to. Provinces and territories are only spending an average of 6.3% of their overall health budgets on mental health, which leaves Canada lagging behind many peer countries (15% in France, 11% in Germany, 9% in the UK and Sweden). This doesn’t even meet the level of spending called for in Canada’s own, stale-dated mental health strategy.

In total, this deep-dive report showcases 24 indicators of the state of mental health in Canada, from how much is being spent on care, to rates of suicide and levels of discrimination against people with mental health concerns—all broken down by province and territory. The most recent statistics from the report show that the mental health of Canadians is three times worse than before COVID-19 and millions of people can’t get the care they need.  

“The report is troubling, but not surprising.” said Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna. “People here in the Central Okanagan and across the province are struggling, and our government systems are not keeping up. Our governments, at every level, need to look at how to make mental health care accessible and equitable across all communities. The reality is that people in smaller or rural communities often face longer wait times and fewer resources. This report underscores the need for a systematic commitment to addressing these gaps.”

As it stands, accessing mental health care in Canada is often a privilege when it should be a fundamental right. CMHA’s report shows that millions of people in need of support aren’t getting it—an alarming reality with real consequences.  

With 32% of all apparent drug-related deaths in Canada occurring in B.C., our communities are ground zero in the drug toxicity crisis. The high rates of housing insecurity and unaffordability, core housing need, and poverty all contribute to mental illness and substance abuse (outlined in Episode 3: Cost of Living -  A Way Forward Podcast | Presented by Beem Credit Union).

However, The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 also highlights promising innovations, like significant commitments to improving population well-being mental health promotion in British Columbia, which faces the highest rate of stigma around mental health in the country.

“At CMHA Kelowna, we see firsthand how access to mental health support can change lives,” said Gawliuk. “Our programs and services are designed to meet people where they’re at, whether that’s providing support to youth and families through Foundry Kelowna, providing no-cost virtual counselling, as well as education, skill development and self-management support through Discovery College and our Wellness Development Centre. Every day, we’re working to make mental health care more accessible and inclusive for everyone in our community, and we expect government do the same.”

The fact of the matter is, six federal and provincial governments in a row have failed to deliver free, universal mental health care and we, and the people we love, are living with – and sometimes dying from – the consequences.

CMHA is calling on the federal government to write mental health care into federal law. The federal government must also prioritize the mental health and well-being of Canadians by investing12% of health care spending in mental health, addictions, and substance use services. By doing so, we can support a future where mental health care is a fundamental right for everyone.

For more information about the report and to learn about the state of mental health in your community, please visit cmha.ca/somh.

Key statistics from the State of Mental Health in Canada 2024:

·        On average, provinces and territories are only spending 6.3% of their overall health budgets on mental health. They should be spending 12%.

·        The percentage of the population needing mental health care, but needs are unmet or partially met is nearly 2% higher in British Columbia (9.4%) than the Canadian national average (7.8%).

·        2.5 million people with mental health needs in Canada reported that they weren’t getting adequate care. That’s about equal to the population of Manitoba and Saskatchewan combined.

·        The percentage of population reporting poor-to-fair mental health in core housing needs is 19.1%, 3.3% higher than the Canadian national average of 15.8%.

·        Canadians report having "poor" or "fair" mental health three times more often than before the pandemic (26% in 2021 compared to 8.9% in 2019).  

·        An alarming 38% of Indigenous Peoples reported their mental health was “poor” or “fair.

·        Fifty-seven percent (57%) of young people (aged 18-24) who had early signs of a mental illness said that cost was an obstacle to getting mental health services.

·        Only 50% of people with mental health disabilities are employed and a significant number who aren’t, depend on income supports that keep them in poverty.

·        Canada is failing to collect key information about the mental health system and population mental health, while existing data is variable in quality and coverage across the country.

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