Promoting mental health

Our position

Universities are on the front lines of providing mental health care for post-secondary students in Canada.

Most mental health-related problems are diagnosed between the ages of 16-24—a key period when people are often entering or participating in post-secondary education. Identifying and treating these issues early leads to the best long-term health outcomes. On-campus services are a comfortable and accessible first place to seek help. Ensuring these services are equipped to serve all students in need leads to better outcomes for individuals and for Canadian communities.

Background and context

Universities adopt stepped-care approaches that respond to individual student needs and offer targeted services beyond counselling, such as virtual appointments and 24/7 emergency lines, peer-to-peer support or therapy groups, culturally relevant care and self-directed wellness programs.

But to maintain these services, universities need resources and funds. Long wait times and perceived lack of quality are the main reasons why one in three students report that on-campus services did not meet their diverse needs. To respond to the mental health challenges of students, universities require aid from governments.

In 2024, universities welcomed the federal government’s announcement of a Youth Mental Health Fund. Universities Canada is working with the government to ensure this fund is implemented and helps support the hiring of new mental health counsellors, improve wait times and increase access to mental health services across Canada’s post-secondary institutions. Together, universities and the federal government can work jointly to introduce care models that support student mental health and increase access to the care students need now.

COVID-19 exacerbated mental health issues

The COVID-19 pandemic put additional pressure on Canada’s health care system, including for mental health services. 74% of students reported the pandemic worsened their pre-existing mental health challenges and 61% reported developing new challenges. Many of these students are now graduating without having received appropriate care. As we rethink our health care system to address changing and growing demands, we must also consider how to support a generation of students who experienced declining mental health during the pandemic and beyond.

Untreated mental illness costs Canada

The human and economic costs of mental illness are significant. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) indicates the annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada is $50 billion and projected to reach over $79.9 billion in the coming years. This includes 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. It is key to promoting Canada’s vision as an innovative, affordable and equitable leader in post-secondary education.