Canadians believe we are in a mental health crisis. Could a universal plan help?

Universal mental health care aims to ensure that all Canadians can access the servuces they need without facing financial, cultural or social barriers.

As Canada continues to grapple with a mental health issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a new poll shows that a vast majority of Canadians want the government to provide universal access to systems such as therapy, medication and support groups.

The survey released Monday by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) based on an online survey of 1,626 adult Canadians conducted between April 6 and April 10, found that 87 per cent of Canadians want universal mental health care and 69 per cent believe the country is in a mental health crisis.

“If you break your leg, you know that you can go anywhere in the country and you’re going to get the same level of treatment and care. But we can’t say that about mental health,” Margaret Eaton, national CEO for the CMHA told Global News.

The idea of universal mental health care is that services are funded through public health insurance and are free to all Canadians, Eaton said.

“We think it’s wonderful that Canadians also want universal mental health care because it’s been something we’ve been talking to the federal government and to provinces about for some time now,” she said.

“A great percentage of Canadians, especially vulnerable Canadians, children and youth, the LGBTQ community, and racialized people were really affected by the pandemic and their mental health continues to suffer.”

For example, a study published in Jama Pediatrics on Monday found an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms among youth, especially girls after the pandemic.

And a Calgary-based study published in the Lancet in March, said the pandemic increased mental distress for kids, leading to a sharp increase in emergency department visits for attempted suicide and suicide ideation among children and adolescents under the age of 19 years old.