Why does MoneyDown publish an inventory of free and low-cost mental health services? Many Canadians struggle to afford treatment costs, even those that receive medical insurance advantages through their employer. Your mental wellbeing can impact your overall health, your profession, your personal relationships and your funds – so it is important to know where you possibly can get help. There are some ways to access free or low-cost mental health resources in Canada.
Free mental health resources in Canada
- Crisis lines, emergency centers and native resources: The Government of Canada maintains an internet site with links to crisis hotlines and emergency centers, in addition to mental health and substance abuse services in each province and territory.
- BounceBack is a self-directed online program developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to offer adults and youth (15 years and older) with the abilities to administer low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress and worry.
- Children’s helpline offers young people confidential support hotlines (phone, SMS and chat) with skilled advisors. (If you might be an adult, Kids Help Phone will provide help to find the suitable resources.)
- Free Mental Health Apps: If you wish to access mental health support in your phone or tablet, there are some free options available MindShift CBT (for fear) and Healthy minds (Skills for Mental Wellbeing).
- Community supports: Check yours Provincial or territorial government website or a branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) for mental health and/or addiction services. There could also be free support groups or counseling centers in your area.
- Health insurance: If you or a right away member of the family have medical insurance through an worker advantages program or purchased privately, you could be covered in whole or partially for paramedical services similar to psychotherapy and any medications you might be prescribed. However, remember that some plans offer blanket coverage for therapy. To see what number of sessions are covered, divide the flat fee by your therapist’s cost per session (fees range from $120 to $225 – see more details below).
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Workplace EAPs typically offer free confidential counseling services to their employees. These programs vary widely; Contact your EAP or visit their website to study mental health or financial counseling options.
- innoviCares: This prescription savings card may also help reduce the fee of certain brand-name prescription medications in Canada, whether you may have medical insurance or not. The program is funded by pharmaceutical firms.
Low-cost mental health resources in Canada
- TELUS Health MyCare: This app connects users with general practitioners (GPs) for video consultations. These virtual visits are free because they’re covered by provincial medical insurance plans. For a fee, you may also meet with a counselor, clinical psychologist, or nutritionist through the app. (If you may have medical insurance, it could reimburse you.)
- maple: This platform connects individuals who do not have a primary care doctor with a Canadian licensed doctor online 24/7 for $30 per 30 days (for as much as 30 visits per 12 months) or $69 (or more) for a single visit . Maple also has specialists – including psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and sleep therapists (availability and charges vary by province/territory).
The State of Mental Health in Canada
The need for mental health services has increased sharply in the course of the pandemic and the resulting economic fallout: high inflation, high rates of interest, job losses and rising debt. This collection of recent surveys and studies paints an image of our collective mental well-being:
Mental Health in Canada
- According to a study, in 2023, 29 percent of Canadians aged 18 and over suffered from depression, anxiety or one other mental health problem Survey conducted from the Commonwealth Fund. That was up from 20% in 2016 and above the typical of 25% recorded within the 10 high-income countries surveyed in 2023.
- The mental health of adolescents – especially girls – worsened between 2019 and 2023, in line with two researchers Statistics Canada surveys.
- Affordability of care stays a key barrier to access. According to a 2024 study, about 62% of Canadian employees rarely or never use mental health services Poll by Humi. If cost weren’t a difficulty, about 79% would use mental health services not less than twice a 12 months.
The Challenges of Accessing Mental Health Care in Canada
The need for mental health support is there, but it may possibly be difficult for people to access timely medical care. According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health, one in five Canadians doesn’t have a primary care doctor Angus Reid Institute. Even amongst those that do, one in three (33%) say they must wait over every week to see their GP.
I spoke with Ed Mantler, senior vp and chief program officer of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) about a number of the barriers to accessing mental health resources in Canada. “We often hear that there are long waiting lists for publicly funded services and that there are financial barriers to accessing other services,” says Mantler.
If you may have medical insurance, you could only pay for a couple of therapy sessions in a non-public clinic. The MHRC survey found that 29% of Canadians who paid for some or all of their mental health treatment out of pocket within the last 12 months did so because their medical insurance advantages had expired; 27% said their advantages didn’t cover the treatment they received; and 1 / 4 had no advantages in any respect.
How much does therapy cost in Canada?
The cost of personal therapy is dependent upon the style of healthcare skilled, but can range from $120 to $225 per session. This can really add up in case your medical insurance expires otherwise you do not have insurance coverage. For example, at $120 per session once every week, the monthly therapy cost is $480. (Read about it several types of therapists.)
Some therapists may offer a free or reduced initial session and/or a “sliding scale” of fees based on financial needs. If you tell the clinic that your insurance coverage is proscribed to a certain variety of sessions or that you may have no insurance in any respect, they might offer a reduction. If you receive a referral out of your GP, discover about your financial circumstances upfront in order that they will point you within the direction of free or reasonably priced services from the beginning.
The alternative is to access free, government-funded mental health services. However, this will likely mean that you may have to be on a waiting list.
