Accessing mental health services in Canada sometimes feels like a game of waiting around. Individuals might seek assistance but end up on waitlists that could last weeks or months before their needs are addressed. It may not be easy dealing with this situation, especially when individuals need immediate help. There are many factors that contribute to such lengthy wait times.
A Growing Demand That Outpaces the System
Over the last few years, an increasing number of Canadians have sought help in mental health facilities. This trend has been brought about by several factors, including an increased level of consciousness among the population and lower stigmatization of mental illnesses.
However, the development of this trend has also put immense pressure on the healthcare system. For instance, statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that there has been an increase in demand for mental health services in the country, which has not been met with a proportionate supply of services.
The Limits of Public Coverage
Another problem is that not all therapies are funded by the publicly funded health care system of Canada. Where visits to specialists like psychiatrists and inpatient care services are usually funded, some therapies such as talk therapy are available privately or in community programs. It leads to overcrowding in the publicly funded health care system because there is a greater demand for services than availability.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, finances and access have always been the main hindrances.
A Shortage of Mental Health Professionals
The other reason is the scarcity of mental health professionals who can take on all clients. Despite psychologists and therapists being licensed and supervised by the Ordre des psychologues du Québec, the supply of mental health specialists falls short of meeting the demand for their services. The lack of supply is particularly acute in areas outside the city center. Furthermore, even in the cities themselves, demand may exceed the number of patients that therapists are willing and able to take on.
In addition to accessibility issues, the act of seeking help itself can become a barrier. There are several stages an individual has to go through before receiving help, including obtaining a referral, undergoing an assessment, and getting placed into an appropriate facility. This experience is even more daunting when one is already anxious, depressed, or emotionally disturbed. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has stated that system complexity can cause delays in treatment, especially for those who are new to the process of seeking assistance.
Prioritizing Urgent Needs
Although it may be practical and necessary to prioritize the treatment of acute mental disorders from an economic perspective, this decision inevitably contributes to the systemic “missing middle,” referring to people whose mental health condition is not severe enough to qualify for specialized care, yet still requires attention.
In other words, the current approach to mental healthcare can be compared to the “wait-to-fail” strategy, implying that the healthcare system does nothing to help patients address their problems until they become unbearable, thus forcing people to turn to specialists.
This way of working disregards the idea that it is better to provide psychological assistance at the initial stage because, in the case of conditions such as anxiety or depression, the body is more likely to react positively due to neuroplasticity and the absence of developed harmful habits. As soon as one finds out that he or she is “not sick enough” to receive professional psychological assistance, it means that the patient will wait until their state becomes severe, which will have devastating consequences for their social, financial, and physical well-being, making it even harder to address their issues.
To Conclude
When it comes to the length of time you need to wait for mental health care in Canada, it can feel incredibly disheartening to be in that situation. Not only have you already overcome the hurdle of admitting you need some sort of support, to wait with your anxiety, depression or general emotional turmoil is both agonizing and, at times, incredibly isolating. However, it’s vital to understand that such delays are not a result of your need being any less significant than anyone else’s. They occur because the system is playing catch up with what is a dramatically increasing number of people needing support.
Throughout Canada, organizations like the Canadian Institute for Health Information, continue to outline just how stark the divide is between the number of people requiring services and those that are actually available, and in tandem, groups like the Canadian Mental Health Association, are actively campaigning for increased and equitable access to care. While slow, these actions are significant as they demonstrate that there is a growing awareness around mental health being seen as an essential component of overall health, not an additional benefit or optional extra.
However, significant, systemic change cannot occur instantaneously. More services will need to be introduced and more mental health professionals trained to meet growing demand across all the provinces, including Quebec. The wait will continue to be frustrating, however the conversation is moving in the right direction and the amount more people that are speaking out on this issue is growing significantly.