Mental health and well-being
In 2021, universities welcomed the Government’s commitment to introduce a new fund to expand student mental health services at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Two years later, cohorts of university students directly impacted by the pandemic are graduating without that additional support. 1 in 3 students reported that on campus services did not meet the diverse needs of students, and long wait times are the biggest barrier to students accessing care.
The pandemic forced Canadians and the government to rethink our healthcare system as it faced changing and growing demands. We must also rethink how we support mental health care for a generation of students affected by the pandemic. As students have returned to campuses across the country, universities are on the front lines of providing the vital mental health care services they need.
Universities are strengthening mental health and well-being services, focusing on stepped-care approaches that respond to individual student needs with targeted resources.
A critical investment for Canada
Canadians face human and economic costs as a result of mental illness. The Centre for Addictions and Mental Health estimates that the economic burden of mental illness in Canada is estimated to be $51 billion per year, including health care costs, lost productivity, and reductions in health-related quality of life. Investing in the mental health of young people is good social and economic policy for Canada.
Universities are working to offer supports to students, but require support from governments to meet the growing need for mental health care. Together, universities and the federal government can work together to introduce stepped care models that support strong student mental health and increase access to the care students need now.
By the numbers
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32%report poor mental health
32% of students rated their mental health as either “poor” or “very poor”.
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46%have experienced depression
Nearly half of post-secondary students have experienced depression and 38% have experienced suicidal thoughts.
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70%report their academic performance suffered
70% of students believe their academic performance has been negatively affected by their mental health.
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75%struggle with their mental health
75% of post-secondary students report struggling with their mental health with 61% reporting they developed new mental health challenges over the past year.
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89%report feeling overwhelmed
Nearly 90% of post-secondary students reported feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities and 66% reported feeling overwhelming anxiety.
News
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Open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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A gut feeling: Researcher delving into how gut inflammation impacts mental health
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Universities see urgent need for federal government to follow through on mental health commitment
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Canada’s universities urge Parliament to take action to keep Canada competitive
