The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024: How COVID-19 Exposed Systemic Failures
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada finds itself at a critical juncture in addressing mental health. The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 report by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) paints a sobering picture: mental health in Canada is in crisis.
While the pandemic highlighted the importance of mental well-being, it also revealed deep cracks in our healthcare system—inequities, underfunding, and a lack of cohesive strategy. Now, as we move forward, we must confront these issues with urgency and resolve.
Mental Health in Canada: A Crisis Exposed
Before COVID-19, mental health challenges were widespread but often overlooked. The pandemic acted as an accelerant, intensifying stress, isolation, and insecurity. The CMHA report reveals just how severe this impact has been:
In 2021, 26.1% of Canadians rated their mental health as “poor” or “fair,” a shocking jump from 8.9% pre-pandemic. This means over one-quarter of Canadians are struggling with their well-being.
Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately affected, with 38% reporting poor mental health—a stark reflection of systemic inequities that persist in Canada’s healthcare and social systems.
Suicide rates remain devastatingly high, particularly in Canada’s northern regions. For example, Nunavut recorded 72.2 suicides per 100,000 people, over six times the national average of 10.9.
The numbers are more than statistics—they represent lives disrupted and lost due to unmet needs, lack of support, and systemic barriers. The pandemic didn’t create these issues, but it brought them to the forefront in ways we can no longer ignore.
Funding Failures: Mental Health Still Takes a Back Seat
The CMHA report highlights a persistent and critical issue: Canada’s mental health services remain drastically underfunded. Despite the increased need, mental health spending accounts for only 6.3% of total healthcare budgets—far below the internationally recommended 12%. To put this into perspective:
Countries like France spend 15% of their healthcare budgets on mental health.
The United Kingdom and Germany allocate 9-11%, far outpacing Canada.
While mental health was thrust into the spotlight during the pandemic—prompting initiatives like the Wellness Together platform—the government’s actions have fallen short. The promised Canada Mental Health Transfer, a $2.5 billion annual commitment to fund mental health care, was never delivered. Instead, mental health funding is lumped into broader healthcare transfers, diluting its impact.
This chronic underfunding leaves critical gaps in care. Canadians face long wait times, inaccessible counselling, and limited community-based resources. For those without private insurance or financial means, the cost of mental health care often becomes prohibitive, forcing individuals to choose between seeking help and meeting basic needs like rent or groceries.
The Toxic Drug Crisis: A Deadly Aftershock
Alongside mental health struggles, the toxic drug crisis has worsened. Canada recorded 8,049 deaths from opioid toxicity in 2023 alone, with an alarming rate of 20.8 deaths per 100,000 people—the second highest in the world after the United States. While the federal government has taken positive steps, such as supporting harm reduction services and supervised consumption sites, these efforts remain inconsistent across provinces and vulnerable to shifting political priorities.
The CMHA report stresses the need for sustained, coordinated action. Programs like safer drug supply, drug-checking services, and supervised inhalation services are essential but face resistance due to stigma and "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) sentiments. Without long-term funding and public education, these lifesaving services will remain under threat.
Systemic Inequities: Who Gets Left Behind?
The pandemic magnified existing disparities in access to mental health care. According to the CMHA:
People living in rural and northern regions face a severe shortage of mental health professionals. For example, the territories report self-harm hospitalization rates 3.5 to 5 times higher than the national average.
Racialized communities and Indigenous populations face higher rates of poverty, discrimination, and barriers to culturally appropriate care.
Youth are particularly vulnerable. While early intervention can prevent long-term challenges, only 61% of youth with early mental health or substance use needs accessed care within six months.
These inequities highlight the interconnectedness of mental health and social determinants, such as poverty, housing, and employment. For example:
15.8% of people with poor mental health live in core housing need, meaning their living conditions are unsuitable or unaffordable.
Among individuals with mental health-related disabilities, only 46.1% are employed, compared to 80% of the general population.
Addressing mental health requires more than healthcare solutions—it demands systemic change to tackle poverty, housing insecurity, and employment barriers.
COVID-19’s Long Shadow: Lessons Learned
The pandemic taught us a crucial lesson: mental health cannot be an afterthought. It showed that investing in mental health care, reducing stigma, and prioritizing well-being are essential for individual and societal resilience. Moving forward, Canada must take bold steps to address the issues highlighted in the CMHA report. Here’s what needs to be done:
Substantially Increase Mental Health Funding
Canada must align mental health spending with international benchmarks, increasing funding to 12% of healthcare budgets. This includes delivering the promised Canada Mental Health Transfer and holding provinces accountable for allocating funds to evidence-based programs.
Expand Social Supports
The government must address the root causes of mental health challenges by investing in:
Universal Basic Income pilot programs to reduce poverty.
Affordable housing initiatives to ensure people have stable living conditions.
Employment supports and training for individuals with mental health disabilities.
Strengthen Harm Reduction Services
To combat the toxic drug crisis, Canada must provide sustained funding for harm reduction programs, safer supply initiatives, and overdose prevention sites. Federal leadership is critical to overcoming resistance and ensuring equitable access across all regions.
Close the Data Gaps
Canada’s ability to track mental health outcomes is hampered by poor data collection, particularly in northern and remote regions. Investing in comprehensive, nationwide data collection will ensure we can measure progress and address gaps in care.
Renew the National Mental Health Strategy
Canada’s mental health strategy is over a decade old. It must be updated to reflect current needs, with clear goals, accountability frameworks, and a commitment to addressing systemic inequities.
Mental Health is a Human Right
The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 is a call to action. Mental health is a fundamental human right, yet millions of Canadians are denied access to the care and support they need. COVID-19 exposed the fragility of our mental health system, but it also provided an opportunity to rebuild better. By investing in mental health care, tackling systemic inequities, and committing to long-term solutions, we can ensure that all Canadians—regardless of income, geography, or identity—have the opportunity to thrive.
The time to act is now. Let’s build a Canada where mental health is not just acknowledged but prioritized as a cornerstone of our health and well-being.
