Canada is facing a widespread and growing mental health crisis, which has been exacerbated by the global pandemic. To make matters worse, the Canadian healthcare system is facing significant challenges in providing access to support and resources for individuals with mental illness. For those Canadians living with mental illness, medication can be a critical part of the healing and recovery journey (along with peer support, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and alternative therapies).

However, despite the existence of publicly funded healthcare services, people with mental illness continue to face barriers to accessing medications for mental illnesses.

To identify those barriers, Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) commissioned a new report, System Broken: How Public Drug Coverage is Failing Canadians with Mental Illness / Système brisé : Dans quelle mesure la couverture publique des médicaments ne répond-elle pas aux besoins des Canadiens atteints de maladies mentales?, which reveals the stark reality that public access to the newest medications for mental illness is hampered by a complex system that takes too long and results in inequitable access – or in many cases, no access at all.

We recognize the importance of amplifying the voices of those who have personally experienced the challenges of accessing mental health medications. We believe that individuals with lived experience can serve as powerful spokespeople to shed light on the realities faced by countless Canadians. To learn more please view the video below:

The findings in the report underscore the urgent need for systemic change to ensure timely and equitable access to these life-changing medications for those living with mental illnesses that need them. The following infographic summarizes the key barriers noted in the report.

To launch the report, Mood Disorders Society of Canada is reaching out to Canadians to learn more about the issue and lend support to help resolve it. We will be also actively reaching out to media outlets to encourage them to cover this critical issue. Read media release: English, French.

Help us make a difference in the lives of countless Canadians struggling with mental illness. Your voice can amplify our message. Share our social media posts to help spread the word across your networks. Together, we can work towards a healthcare system that ensures everyone has access to the treatments they require. Let’s break down the barriers to better access to better mental health care. #SystemBroken #AccessToMeds

Collaborating with all stakeholders, including government, to investigate the causes underlying the barriers noted in the report, will help to create strategies to improve Canadians’ access to medications for mental illness.

We urge all stakeholders within the mental health care system, including government officials and decision makers, to work with us to do more research in to the issue, delve into root causes, and discuss and prioritize viable solutions that can be effectively implemented. Together, we can dismantle these barriers and ensure equitable access to these essential medications for all Canadians.

If you would like to be part of the solution, please and sign up to learn more. We will keep you informed as we continue to advocate and will reach out when we can use your help!

As a non-profit organization, Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) does not have core funding or ongoing government funding. We rely on project financial support to enable us to conduct important patient-centered research activities. MDSC would like to express our appreciation for project financial support from the following companies that enabled our work on this project: AbbVie, Eisai Canada, Janssen Canada, Lundbeck, Biogen, and Takeda. Should any government body, corporate entity, or other organization wish to financially support this effort (in a similar arm’s length, non-influencing manner as our current funders) please contact us at info@mdsc.ca.