The State of Mental Health in Canada?

Research shows that no province or territory is spending what they should be on mental health, in part because they’re not obliged to.

North Vancouver, BC — A new Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) report highlights the ongoing crisis in mental health care across Canada, shedding light on the systemic gaps and barriers to access that persist, even in affluent regions like the North Shore.

The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 reveals that no province or territory, including British Columbia, is spending what they should on mental health. Provincially, only 5.5% of healthcare spending is directed to mental health services, falling short of the recommended 12% investment, and leaving Canada lagging behind peer nations like France (15%) and Germany (11%).

Mental health challenges have escalated in recent years, with millions of Canadians unable to access timely, appropriate care. “North and West Vancouver are not immune to the inequities in access to mental health and substance use services,” said Talayeh Jamshidi, Executive Director of CMHA North & West Vancouver. “Barriers such as affordability, housing instability, long waitlists, stigma, and the lack of localized, trauma-informed care are acutely felt by our community. Families and individuals, particularly those facing complex mental health or substance use issues, struggle to access care that is timely, appropriate, and continuous.”

The report highlights the widening gap between the demand for services and available resources, a gap that leaves many individuals and families without the support they need. Mental health issues are now three times more prevalent than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and one in four Canadians report struggling with mental health concerns.

A local resident emphasized the importance of wraparound, continuous, and community-based care: “I recently celebrated four years sober, and I am 100% certain that I owe that to the fact that when I didn’t have any hope, others, like the staff at Arborlynn, were hopeful for me,” shared Emmanuel Lopez, CMHA Supportive Housing client. “It is humbling to realize that recovery and sobriety are never an ‘individual project’ that one embarks on, but rather a team effort.”

However, The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 also highlights promising innovations, like universal, publicly funded mental health care in Nova Scotia, significant investments in mental health promotion in B.C., addictions treatment in Alberta, mobile crisis teams across three provinces, and Inuit paraprofessionals providing culturally appropriate care in Nunavut. And through a series of actionable recommendations, the report gives decision makers a roadmap to better mental health care.

“The North Shore Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT), run by our branch, plays a vital role in supporting individuals and families in mental health crises,” said Jamshidi. “Through this program, we’ve seen how barriers such as systemic inequities, lack of culturally responsive care, and the need for trauma-informed approaches prevent people from getting the care they deserve. PACT addresses this gap by offering compassionate, inclusive emergency mental health support, which is essential to BC’s continuum of care.”

CMHA is calling on the federal government to prioritize mental health care by ensuring that 12% of health care spending is dedicated to mental health, addictions, and substance use services. The report stresses the need for a shift in how mental health is treated—from a privilege to a fundamental right.

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

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

• Provinces and territories are spending, on average, 6.3% of their health budgets on mental health—far below the 12% recommended.
• 2.5 million Canadians with mental health needs reported that they didn’t receive adequate care.
• 57% of young people (ages 18-24) with early signs of mental illness cited cost as a barrier to accessing mental health services.
• 38% of Indigenous Peoples report their mental health as “poor” or “fair.”

About CMHA North and West Vancouver

CMHA North and West Vancouver is a non-profit, charitable organization serving the communities of North and West Vancouver, Bowen Island, the Sunshine Coast, and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor. Our vision is a Canada where mental health is a universal human right, and our mission is to ensure that everyone experiences good mental health and well-being.

We offer a range of low- or no-cost services, including counseling, crisis care, social support groups, peer navigation, supportive housing, youth and adult recreation programs, and mental health education and training. We work closely with the community to deliver accessible and inclusive programs that empower individuals and foster resilience.