Throughout the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant tolls on our mental health and wellbeing, making need for mental health care even more urgent in Canada. Other countries around the world as well as Canada, are working to increasingly recognize the importance of mental health, to the success of their citizens, economies and societies.

A survey was conducted by Nanos Research on behalf of the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Council of Professional Associations of Psychologists, to over 3000 Canadians. The goal of the survey was to better understand how our population views the role of psychologists.

While many people remain unimpressed by the current access level to mental health care, the information from this survey will look to take those opinions into account. View the information included in the release below.

Barriers to Access Care

  • 78% of Canadians report that psychological services costing too much for them to pay for themselves is a very significant (52%) or somewhat significant (26%) barrier.
  • 73% of Canadians say that the services of psychologists are not being covered by provincial/territorial health plans is a very significant (47%) or significant (26%) barrier.
  • 68% of Canadians say wait times to see a psychologist being too long is a very significant (35%) or somewhat significant (33%) barrier.
  • 66% of Canadians say that psychological services not being covered by their employer’s health benefit plan is a very significant (40%) or somewhat significant (26%) barrier.
  • 46% of Canadians say that preferring to deal with these problems/disorders on their own is a very significant (16%) or somewhat significant (30%) barrier.
  • 39% of Canadians say not wanting others to know they are seeing a psychologist is a very significant (14%) or somewhat significant (25%) barrier.

Solutions to Improve Access to Care

  • Almost 9 out of 10 Canadians (57%) support or somewhat support (31%) improving access to psychologists through the publicly-funded health care system.
  • 83% of Canadians say psychologists working collaboratively with other health professionals, such as a family physician in primary care teams, is a very good idea (50%) or good idea (33%).
  • 76% of Canadians think that better access (more funded mental health care services and higher financial caps) to psychologists through their employer health benefit plan is a very good idea (42%) or good idea (34%).

CPA CEO Dr. Karen Cohen, and CPAP Executive Director Mr. Christopher Cameron, provided comments on the results, speaking directly on the need for additional investments, and how this data will help better judge the value Canadian people put on psychologists.