The report’s answer to the question “So how is Canada doing in supporting the mental health of its people?” is “Not great
Through a first-of-its-kind report, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is providing a picture of the mental health system — with all its cracks and failings — and how people are faring across the country
What The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 finds:
- The mental health of Canadians is three times worse than before the pandemic, and millions of people can’t get the care they need. Suicides, particularly in the north, and the toxic drug supply are claiming lives at an alarming rate.
- No province or territory is spending enough on mental health, in part because they’re not obliged to. On average, provinces and territories are only spending 6.3% of their overall health budgets on mental health. They should be spending 12%.
- People receive drastically different care depending on their home province or territory and are doing worse in some places, including in the north and rural areas.
- Shortages of psychiatrists and other mental health care providers mean people aren’t getting care when and where they need it.
- It’s not a flashy topic, but we need more data about mental health! You can’t fix what you don’t measure, and Canada is failing to collect information about the mental health system and the ways it affects us.
The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 report is accompanied by a number of summaries, maps, fact sheets, and profiles by jurisdiction.