Feeling anxious about tariffs, turmoil and Trump? GreenShield offers free mental health care to all Canadians
Why It Matters
In some communities, mental health care is stigmatized, or there are barriers to access. This offer is an opportunity to try therapy and access resources for free.
This story has been made possible thanks to the generous partnership and support of Greenshield. Read our editorial ethics and standards here.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil is doing more than dominating headlines and creating uncertainty – it is also impacting Canadians’ mental health.
New research from Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) and GreenShield, Canada’s only national non-profit health and benefits company, indicates that more than one in three Canadians (38 per cent) cite political tensions and unpredictability as sources of heightened anxiety. The concern ranks second only to worries about the rising cost of living (52 per cent).
To alleviate this growing crisis and support Canadians in coping, GreenShield is offering free therapy and access to mental health resources for all Canadians.
“For most Canadians, therapy remains out of reach due to barriers such as cost and availability,” said Sabrina Ladha, Vice President of GreenShield Cares.
“As a purpose-driven non-profit and Canada’s fastest growing mental health provider, it is our responsibility to ensure accessible and culturally appropriate care. This initiative aims to dismantle these barriers and serve as the first step toward better mental health.”
The Latest Data on Canadians’ Mental Health
“In 2024, we observed a decline in the number of Canadians negatively affected by the country’s economic conditions,” said Michael Cooper, MHRC’s VP of Development and Strategic Partnerships.
“However, the beginning of 2025 witnessed a spike in this impact, with two-fifths of respondents reporting that the economic downturn (42 per cent) and concerns about paying their bills (39 per cent) are adversely affecting their mental health, according to our Poll 23.”
That represents a significant increase from three months ago when those percentages were 35 and 34 per cent, respectively.
Since March 2020, MHRC has been capturing Canadians’ reported perceptions of their anxiety and depression levels. The polling also aimed to identify and evaluate the factors influencing mental health.
The organization’s most recent online survey of 4,050 adult Canadians, National Poll 23, focused on overall measures of mental health and the impact of current economic conditions.
Simultaneously, MHRC launched a one-time national Omnibus survey to understand Canadians’ experiences with anxiety related to current economic and political stressors. It was completed by 1,500 adults in Canada.
The Omnibus survey revealed that 42 per cent of Canadians experienced an increase in their anxiety levels in February. In addition to the increased cost of living and political tensions, Canadians cited personal challenges (27 per cent) and global events (25 per cent) as the most common causes of anxiety.
This rise is particularly noticeable among lower-income Canadians, and MHRC’s polling data indicated that residents of Ontario and British Columbia experience higher levels of anxiety compared to the general population.
Cooper said the results of both surveys indicate an upsurge in the negative impact of the economic conditions on Canadians’ mental health.
Age also influenced factors contributing to anxiety. Older Canadians tended to experience anxiety related to political tensions, while younger Canadians were more affected by personal issues.
“Feeling anxiety, stress, or anger about what is happening is not abnormal,” said Cooper. “It becomes problematic when you can’t shut it off. Our concern with this latest data is that we are only at the beginning of this. [Now that] these tariffs [have taken] hold, we expect them to drive anxiety higher as they become part of our daily experience.”
Providing Canadians with Free Mental Health Support
MHRC’s data also shows that access to mental health support has seen a slow and steady increase over the last two years. After a slight decline three months ago, it has returned to previously reported levels, with 15 per cent of Canadians accessing support. However, the vast majority (65 per cent) have never sought professional help.
“With the trade war and tariffs only adding to the challenges Canadians face, Greenshields’s free mental health support initiative is coming at a critical time,” said Ladha.
“When examining historical data, we have observed surges in mental health struggles during national or global crises, such as the 2008 financial crisis, when the number of individuals reporting heightened anxiety levels surged very quickly,” said Ladha.
“We suspected we would see an upward trend, and MHRC’s data confirmed that. We knew we had to step up.”
Canadians can now access two free hours of counselling with a qualified therapist and a two-month unlimited subscription to GreenShield’s digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) platform.
The initiative will be available to all Canadians, including those already covered by employer-sponsored health benefits.
“As a non-profit without shareholders, we are uniquely positioned to reinvest our earnings and redeploy the services in which we have expertise to support equity-seeking and other Canadian communities,” said Ladha. “We intertwine our commercial and social impact to ensure our sustainability.”
To access GreenShield’s free mental health services, Canadians can visit GreenShield’s website and register.
According to Ladha, GreenShield offers a network of more than 5,000 therapists and a personalized matching tool, making it easier for people to find a therapist who aligns with their preferences and lived experiences.
Additionally, their digital CBT program provides interactive learning modules that help users develop positive coping strategies and reduce disruptive symptoms—all at their own pace.
“This is an opportunity for people to process everything that is happening,” Ladha said.
“We hope the combination of professional support and self-management tools, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, which is clinically proven to be the most effective treatment for anxiety and depression, will help ensure that no Canadian is left behind.”
Visit GreenShield’s website to learn more about how their free initiative can support your mental health needs.
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