Mental health issues in Canada - Statistics & Facts

Mental health plays an essential role in how people think, feel, and act as it influences how an individual perceives and functions in the world around them. Good mental health allows people to enjoy life, cope with problems, and have hope, whereas poor mental health can lead to a variety of impairments, illnesses, and health conditions. The fluctuating and dynamic nature of mental health can be experienced individually as well as observed in population health trends: between 2003 and 2021, the percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as fair or poor more than doubled. As pathways to recovery are complex, the various treatment forms for the rising burden of mental disorders come at an ever-increasing cost to the health system in Canada.

Common and concurrent disorders

Just as in medicine, psychiatric diagnoses provide clarity, guide treatment, and can evolve over time to fit the experiences and needs of the individual being treated. In Canada, almost 10 percent of the population has a mood disorder diagnosis such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Other common diagnoses include schizophrenia and other psychoses, personality disorders, trauma-related disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, people who struggle with their mental health also may experience suicidal ideation; in Canada, the suicide rate is highest among adults in their 50’s. Another complicating factor in mental health is substance use, as it is known to co-occur with other mental health disorders as well as increase the risk of suicide.

Treatment costs

Treatment for mental health and related disorders can take place in a variety of settings in Canada, including emergency and crisis centers, inpatient units, outpatient treatment, and various types of community and outreach programs. Hospital stays range in cost depending on the disorder being treated, as severe and persistent mental health disorders such as schizophrenia often require more intensive treatment because those affected are often vulnerable to relapse with high rates of disabilities, social instability, and concurrent physical health conditions. On the other hand, substance-related disorders were the most costly mental health and addiction disorders treated in emergency departments in Canada in 2018. As for community programs and residential care, Canada’s public health expenditure has doubled for these care settings in the past decade.

Disparities and gaps in treatment

Gaps in healthcare and treatment are often caused by insufficient resources or a lack of access. Across many provinces and territories in Canada, individuals with perceived mental healthcare needs are having their needs not met or only partially met. As with physical health, education and wealth disparities in mental health also vary for certain demographic groups in Canada – this is especially prevalent among the indigenous people in Canada. The indigenous people of Canada are doubly burdened with more health and social disparities as well as a lack of access to treatment and other services, especially in rural areas. Other common barriers to receiving treatment for mental health issues among the general population can include stigma associated with having a mental health disorder as well as trouble accessing and using the appropriate services for both assessment and treatment.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good or excellent: 55%

Percentage of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with a mood disorder: 11.4%

Number of suicides in Canada in 2021: 3,769

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Death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in Canada from 2000 to 2022 (per 100,000 population)

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Death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in Canada 2000-2022

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Number of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with a mood disorder from 2003 to 2022

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Number of Canadians reported mood disorder diagnosis 2003-2022

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Mental health status

Premium Statistic Leading health and wellness goals of Canadians 2020
Leading health and wellness goals of Canadians 2020
Top health and wellness goals and priorities of people in Canada in 2020
Basic Statistic Percent of Canadians perceiving strong sense of belonging to community 2003-2022
Percent of Canadians perceiving strong sense of belonging to community 2003-2022
Percentage of Canadians who have a somewhat or very strong sense of local community belonging from 2003 to 2022
Basic Statistic Percent of Canadians perceiving mental health as very good or excellent 2003-2022
Percent of Canadians perceiving mental health as very good or excellent 2003-2022
Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good or excellent from 2003 to 2022
Premium Statistic Number of Canadians perceiving mental health as very good or excellent 2003-2022
Number of Canadians perceiving mental health as very good or excellent 2003-2022
Number of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good or excellent from 2003 to 2022
Basic Statistic Percent of Canadians perceiving mental health as fair or poor 2003-2022
Percent of Canadians perceiving mental health as fair or poor 2003-2022
Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as fair or poor from 2003 to 2022
Basic Statistic Number of Canadians perceiving their mental health as fair or poor 2003-2022
Number of Canadians perceiving their mental health as fair or poor 2003-2022
Number of Canadians who perceived their mental health as fair or poor from 2003 to 2022
Premium Statistic Percent of Canadians reported mood disorder diagnosis 2003-2022
Percent of Canadians reported mood disorder diagnosis 2003-2022
Percentage of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with a mood disorder from 2003 to 2022
Premium Statistic Number of Canadians reported mood disorder diagnosis 2003-2022
Number of Canadians reported mood disorder diagnosis 2003-2022
Number of Canadians who reported being diagnosed with a mood disorder from 2003 to 2022
Basic Statistic Elderly Canadians that had emotional distress in the past year, 2021, by province
Elderly Canadians that had emotional distress in the past year, 2021, by province
Percentage of Canadian seniors aged 65 years and older that had experienced emotional distress within the past 12 months as of 2021, by province*
Premium Statistic Percentage of elderly Canadians had depression/anxiety as of 2021, by province
Percentage of elderly Canadians had depression/anxiety as of 2021, by province
Share of Canadian seniors that had been told by a doctor they had depression, anxiety or another mental health condition as of 2021, by province

Treatment

Basic Statistic Mental health care need perceived in Canada by age and gender 2018
Mental health care need perceived in Canada by age and gender 2018
Percentage of Canada's population with perceived needs for mental health care in 2018, by age and gender
Premium Statistic Mental health care gap in Canada by province 2018
Mental health care gap in Canada by province 2018
Percentage of Canada's population with perceived and unmet needs for mental health care in Canada 2018, by province*
Basic Statistic Share of adults in Canada who received mental health counseling in 2020, by province
Share of adults in Canada who received mental health counseling in 2020, by province
Percentage of adults in Canada who received mental health counseling or treatment in the past year as of 2020, by province and territory
Basic Statistic Treatment methods used by Canadians with mood disorders, as of Dec. 2020
Treatment methods used by Canadians with mood disorders, as of Dec. 2020
Mental health treatment methods used by Canadians diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or other mood disorders, as of December 2020
Basic Statistic Conditions managed by medical cannabis among Canadian patients 2020
Conditions managed by medical cannabis among Canadian patients 2020
Percentage of Canadian patients who reported using medical cannabis for select conditions as of 2020
Basic Statistic Share of Canadians open to allowing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in 2021
Share of Canadians open to allowing psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in 2021
Percentage of Canadian adults who were open to Canadians being allowed to use psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as part of their therapy as of 2021
Basic Statistic Number of Psychologists in Canada 2008-2021
Number of Psychologists in Canada 2008-2021
Number of psychologists in Canada from 2008 to 2021
Basic Statistic Canadian nurses certifications by area of specialty 2022
Canadian nurses certifications by area of specialty 2022
Number of valid nurse certifications in Canada in 2022, by area of specialty*

Costs

Premium Statistic Mental health and addiction care costs in EDs in Canada in 2017-2018, by diagnosis
Mental health and addiction care costs in EDs in Canada in 2017-2018, by diagnosis
Total cost of mental health and addiction treatment in emergency departments in Canada in 2017-2018, by diagnosis (in million Canadian dollars)
Premium Statistic Cost for MHA stays in hospitals in Canada 2017-2018, by disorder
Cost for MHA stays in hospitals in Canada 2017-2018, by disorder
Average cost of hospital stay for mental health disorders in Canada in 2017-2018, by disorder
Premium Statistic Spending per capita on mental health treatment in Canada 2017-2018, by territory
Spending per capita on mental health treatment in Canada 2017-2018, by territory
Average per capita spending on mental health and addiction (MHA) treatment in Canada in 2017-2018, by territory*
Premium Statistic Health expenditure increases for mental health in Canada 2010-2018, by care setting
Health expenditure increases for mental health in Canada 2010-2018, by care setting
Percentage increase in public-sector health expenditure for mental health and addiction in Canada 2010 vs. 2018, by care setting*
Premium Statistic Increase in health expenditure for mental health in Canada 2010-2018, by territory
Increase in health expenditure for mental health in Canada 2010-2018, by territory
Percentage increase in public-sector health expenditure for mental health and addiction in Canada 2010 vs. 2018, by territory

Suicide

Basic Statistic Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by age
Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by age
Share of adults in Canada with suicidal ideation in the past 12 months in 2019 and 2021, by age
Premium Statistic Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by income
Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by income
Share of adults in Canada with suicidal ideation in the past 12 months in 2019 and 2021, by income
Basic Statistic Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by province
Prevalence of suicidal ideation among Canadian adults in 2019 and 2021, by province
Share of adults in Canada with suicidal ideation in the past 12 months in 2019 and 2021, by province
Basic Statistic Number of suicides Canada 2007-2021
Number of suicides Canada 2007-2021
Number of suicides in Canada from 2007 to 2021*
Premium Statistic Death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in Canada 2000-2022
Death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in Canada 2000-2022
Death rate for intentional self-harm (suicide) in Canada from 2000 to 2022 (per 100,000 population)
Basic Statistic Number of suicides Canada by age group 2021
Number of suicides Canada by age group 2021
Number of suicides in Canada by age group in 2021
Basic Statistic Rate of suicide Canada by age group 2021
Rate of suicide Canada by age group 2021
Suicide rate in Canada by age group in 2021 (per 100,000 population)

Focus: Mental health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Basic Statistic Loneliness, anxiety, trouble sleeping among Canadians due to COVID-19 as of March 24
Loneliness, anxiety, trouble sleeping among Canadians due to COVID-19 as of March 24
Percentage of Canadian adults who had select feelings as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past week as of March 24, 2020
Basic Statistic Canadian adult stress levels before and after COVID-19 outbreak as of April 27, 2020
Canadian adult stress levels before and after COVID-19 outbreak as of April 27, 2020
Level of stress felt by Canadians in the month previous to the COVID-19 outbreak and the last month April 27, 2020
Basic Statistic Mental stress changes among Canadians, April 2020 to January 2021, by month
Mental stress changes among Canadians, April 2020 to January 2021, by month
Changes in mental stress among Canadians from April 2020 to January 2021, by month
Basic Statistic Anxiety in Canadians before/since the COVID-19 pandemic as of Dec. 2020, by province
Anxiety in Canadians before/since the COVID-19 pandemic as of Dec. 2020, by province
Percentage of Canadians experiencing high levels of anxiety before or since the COVID-19 outbreak as of December 2020, by province
Basic Statistic Canadians' depression before/since the COVID-19 pandemic as of Dec. 2020, by province
Canadians' depression before/since the COVID-19 pandemic as of Dec. 2020, by province
Percentage of Canadians experiencing high levels of depression before or since the COVID-19 outbreak as of December 2020, by province
Basic Statistic Mood disorders among Canadians before/since the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Dec. 2020
Mood disorders among Canadians before/since the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Dec. 2020
Percentage of Canadians diagnosed with mood disorders before or since the COVID-19 outbreak, as of December 2020
Premium Statistic Indigenous Canadians who reported worsening of mental health due to COVID as of 2020
Indigenous Canadians who reported worsening of mental health due to COVID as of 2020
Percentage of indigenous people in Canada with long-term conditions/disabilities who reported a worsening of mental health since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020*
Basic Statistic Mental health supports in Canada before/since the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Dec. 2020
Mental health supports in Canada before/since the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Dec. 2020
Percentage of Canadians accessing mental health supports before or since the COVID-19 outbreak as of December 2020, by type of support

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