Barriers to Mental Health Care in Canada: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches

The purpose of this qualitative study is to provide context to quantitative data collected, and to gain greater insight into barriers faced by Canadians who need mental health care.

An average of 5%, or over 1.5 million Canadians, have indicated that they have needed mental health support but have not accessed it.

Many Canadians do not know where to find mental health support. This effort is exacerbated by the fact that many do not seek support until they are in the midst of a crisis and simply do not have the energy to tackle this barrier. Despite advocacy efforts resulting in an increase in mental health awareness, stigma remains a concern for many in this group who feel that they would be judged for admitting to needing help, and beyond this, feel they would not be comfortable speaking with a mental health professional.

Through qualitative and quantitative methods we have found that, while there are a host of barriers faced by Canadians who need mental health care, four of the most cited fall under a need for education which should be targeted to physicians, employers, and the public.