2022 Mental Health Care System Survey Report Results
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada’s primary objective in the 2022 Mental Health Care System Survey was to identify priority issues within the Canadian mental health care system that needs to be addressed. This national survey was conducted by Narrative Research, an independent firm. Specifically, the study sought to gain a better understanding of the mental health care concerns among three stakeholder groups:
- Canadians who are currently living with a mental illness;
- Family members or caregivers of an individual with a mental illness; and
- Individuals concerned about the Canadian mental health system.
The research consisted of a follow-up online survey to find out how opinions have evolved over the past decade, from past survey iterations in 2011 and 2015. In addition to topics included in previous years, the 2022 survey also explored opinions regarding health care transfers from the federal government, and the perceived impacts of the pandemic on mental health.
The survey was conducted between July 15 and August 7, 2022. It received 1,919 responses.
The following highlights are derived from the results of the study:
• Mental Health Care System in Canada. Canada’s mental health care system is perceived by stakeholders as still needing improvement overall, notably with the provision of rural/remote access to mental health care, employment and housing services for persons with mental illness, family support, and inclusivity of persons with mental illness. There continues to be a strong desire for the Government of Canada to prioritize various aspects of mental health, notably in improving access to mental health care and family support, providing safe housing, training health care workers, strengthening regional and community mental health services, and supporting collaborative approaches and coordinated mental health research.
• Experience with Mental Health. Unchanged from 2015 results, the majority of respondents, especially among stakeholders, have been dealing with mental illness for more than ten years, either first-hand or being a family member or caregiver of someone with mental illness. The most common types of mental illness experienced overall includes depression or dysthymia, and anxiety disorders. Of note, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is far more reported this year among stakeholders dealing with undiagnosed mental illness compared to 2015. The number of individuals living alone with family members remains high, however among stakeholders, there has been a slight increase in those living alone.
• Accessibility of Treatment and Support Services. In general, facilities most often visited for mental health issues as indicated by stakeholders continue to be community counselling centres, support services (including community mental health organizations, peer support groups and online forums) and hospital emergency rooms. Among the general public, these along with walk-in clinics, are most often visited. Less than half of respondents were informed by walk-in clinic or hospital emergency room staff of the availability of community mental health services or programs. Various types of mental health services continue to be widely seen as important, notably in terms of care, counselling, psychological and psychiatric services, community support and programs, and medication.
• Attitudes Towards Mental Health. Although overall attitudes about mental health have slightly improved compared to five years ago, due to increased awareness and comfort with mental health issues, work is still required to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and towards the fair treatment of people with mental illness. This is most important now as the pandemic is seen as having negatively impacted personal mental health, as well as the availability and accessibility of health care services.
• Health Care Professionals: Among those seeking care due to mental illness, most stakeholders are likely to visit psychiatrists, which are also the most likely to have diagnosed a mental illness. By contrast, according to respondents from the general population, a family doctor is as likely to have diagnosed mental illness. Although nearly all of those experiencing mental illness have a family doctor, a significant minority choose to see a different health care provider for several reasons, including a perception that their doctor is not the right person to talk to.
• Provision of Care. Opinions remain split in terms of whether health care professionals provided medication alone or both information and medication to treat mental illness, although stakeholders increasingly believe that medication is most relied upon on its own. There is increasingly high access to medication to treat mental illness, with cost being the primary barrier faced by stakeholders unable to receive the medication they need. Increasingly this year, concerns around the effectiveness of medication, physicians not paying attention, and difficulty accessing health care services limit access to medication. Those who can access their required medications find them to be highly effective and report taking their medications as prescribed all or most of the time.
• Cost Barriers. For a majority, especially among stakeholders, cost is increasingly a significant barrier to access required supports and treatment.
• Satisfaction with Health Care Facilities. While satisfaction with mental health care services provided by family doctors, community mental health organizations, and health care professionals overall, continues to be acceptable among stakeholders, there is still a desire for improved support services, better mental health care at hospital emergency rooms and walk-in clinics and a general need for health care professionals to be available whenever needed. Stakeholders are more critical in their views of those services than the general population. Above all, although the service provision is criticized, perceptions are strong regarding walk-in clinic and hospital emergency staff, especially among the general population where staff are viewed as respectful, professional and responsive to patient’s needs. Moving forward, there is still room for improving various aspects of care, notably in giving equal priority to patients with mental illness, reducing wait times to obtain care, and ensuring that patients do not feel rushed during consultations.
• Health Coverage. This year, slightly more stakeholders and a strong majority of respondents from the general population indicate they rely on provincial health care alone compared to 2015, where most stakeholders had both provincial and private health coverage. Stakeholders with a private or company health care plan are less likely to believe that the coverage is adequate compared to 2015, with a strong majority now saying their plan does not meet their needs for mental health care. By contrast, more than two-thirds of the general population believe they can access adequate coverage for mental health.
• Canada Mental Health Transfer. There is minimal awareness of the Canada Mental Health Transfer, although a strong desire for the funding to prioritize primary health care services, community-based mental health, and virtual care.
Mood Disorders Society of Canada would like to express our gratitude to AbbVie for providing a grant to make this research possible.
