The mental health of Canadians is worse? Can confirm

Feeling disconnected? Try heading to a concert. (Canva/Supplied)

There are two reports that have been released in the past two days about the mental health of Canadians, and I can personally confirm most of it.

The Canadian Mental Health Association’s report called The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024, has sobering, if unsurprising, results.

You can read the report for yourself (and I strongly encourage you to do so), but a few key highlights:

• The mental health of Canadians is three times worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• No jurisdiction is spending enough on mental health.
• Where you are in Canada matters when it comes to mental health treatment access.

Can confirm. I’ve been open about my own mental health struggles, and in my family, I can unequivocally state everyone’s mental health is worse, there aren’t enough resources and I’ve been damn lucky to be able to access mental health resources at all – even though I paid for them out-of-pocket. I know so many people who can’t.

The report does suggest numerous solutions, some easier than others. One solution is prioritizing and doubling spending on mental health in every province and territory to prevent other things, like addiction, crime and illness. Doable, with political will.

Another solution is to eliminate poverty. Not so easy.

But one solution they didn’t look at was highlighted in this poll funded by CanadaHelps: Canadians who engage in arts and culture have better mental health, are less lonely and better embrace cultural diversity.

Can confirm. One of the best things for my mental health is my (shameless plug alert) cover band, where I go to belt out angry songs when I’m ticked off or sing sad ballads when I’m down.

As frustrating as the stats surrounding mental health in Canada are, I do believe we are making strides in this. The stigma around mental health is lessening. We are starting to (slowly) collect more data around the issues. And politicians are (very slowly) starting to pay attention and implement policy changes.

I’m hopeful that in a few years, I’ll be able to confirm an improvement.