Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) believes that through greater collaboration with mental health groups, healthcare stakeholders, and government officials, we can improve the mental healthcare system so that all Canadians can access the supports and programs that they need, when they need it, in the communities where they live.

Let’s build a future where no one waits for mental health care. Mental health is health, and everyone deserves the care they need without delay.

Canada faces a mental illness and substance use crisis, straining individuals, communities, and our health care system. By the time people reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 people in Canada will have had or have a mental illness.^{1 2}

The impacts of this crisis are felt acutely across vulnerable demographics. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth and young adults (aged 15-34)³, with 20% of children and youth visits to emergency departments for mental health disorders leading to hospital admissions.⁴ 54% of Canada’s Veterans will experience at least one mental health disorder, including depression, PTSD, or anxiety.⁵

Beyond the human toll, the mental illness crisis is fundamentally an economic issue. Problems related to poor mental health impose an economic burden estimated at over $220 billion annually in Canada⁶, which encompasses health care costs and significant losses in productivity. With 60% of Canadians actively involved in the labour force, approximately 70% report that their work experience directly impacts their mental health.⁷ As a leading cause of disability in the country, poor mental health accounts for 62% of missed workdays, resulting in an average of 12 lost days per employee every year.⁸

Investing in mental health is no longer just a health care priority; it is a sound social and economic policy. Accessible and affordable mental health care provides individual stability while bolstering entire communities, contributing to a stronger, more resilient workforce, and reducing heavy pressures on Canada’s social safety nets.

Together, we can build a more resilient, compassionate and inclusive Canada, where lived experience drives innovation and every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

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MDSC has a demonstrated track record for forging and maintaining meaningful and sustained partnerships with the public, private and non-profit sectors throughout Canada. Collaboration is an MDSC operational principle. MDSC fulfills its mandate through an active partnership approach that engages like-minded organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors. MDSC is engaged on an ongoing basis in a wide range of projects and initiatives designed to support the inclusion of persons with disabling mental illnesses in Canadian society and has taken a lead proactive role in public policy and program development in many capacities on the national stage.

1. That the Government of Canada establish a dedicated, multi-year federal funding stream to strengthen the capacity of community-based mental health organizations across Canada.

2. That the Government of Canada invest $4.2 million over 3 years to implement and scale the STRIDE Forward program.

3. That the Government of Canada embed community mental health support into the men’s health strategy.

MDSC greatly appreciates the support from our sponsors which will enable our organization to advance our mandate which centers on improving the lives of people impacted by mental illness, caregivers and their families. As a national non-profit charitable organization, we would not be able to undertake these national projects that will benefit all Canadians without assistance from the private sector. We would like to thank our sponsors for their contribution to assisting us in our work for improving mental health services and supports across Canada.

References

¹ Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics
² Statistics Canada Mental and substance use disorders in Canada (2025)
³ Statistics Canada (2024), Suicide in Canada
⁴ CIHI (2024), Children and Youth Mental Health
⁵ Lifetime Prevalence and Comorbidity of Mental Disorders
⁶ The Next Frontier of Workplace Culture
⁷ Canadian Psychological Association (2024), Mental Health and the Workplace
⁸ Mental health claims in Canada surge by 132 percent since start of pandemic