Access to Psychotherapy in the Canadian Context

In any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health problem or illness, with a cost to the economy well in excess of $50 billion annually. Canadians identify a range of mental health service needs, including for information, medication and psychotherapy (i.e., psychological therapies and clinical counselling). Of these, the number one need identified is for psychotherapy, which is also the need that is least likely to be met. Because there is strong evidence that psychotherapy is an effective treatment and that it improves workforce participation, countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have made strides toward increased access to psychotherapy. Complex institutional factors and policy legacies (such as those related to federalism and Medicare) will need to be addressed, however, if access to psychotherapy in Canada is to improve.

This Twelve O’Clock Talk will provide an overview of my planned dissertation, where I propose to ask what it would take to expand access to psychotherapy in the Canadian context. As stigma declines, more Canadians are seeking mental health service. By providing a clear analysis of the institutional factors, policy legacies and inequalities associated with access to psychotherapy, this research project will help to equip policy-makers to take advantage of this emerging opportunity to improve the mental health of Canadians.

PRESENTER:

Mary Bartram

PhD Candidate, School of Public Policy and Administration
Former Director, Mental Health Strategy, Mental Health Commission of Canada