Many Canadians ending mental health care sooner than needed: report

Canadians who access mental health support are having difficulty staying in care, even as overall satisfaction with services reaches a two‑year high, according to a report.

Overall, 49% of Canadians who accessed mental health support ended care earlier than planned or needed. Key reasons for opting out early include:

• not seeing real‑world progress or improvements (15%)
• unclear goals or not knowing what to expect from care (13%)
• not feeling understood, respected, or able to be honest without judgement (12%)
• not trusting the approach or guidance provided (10%)
• no regular check‑ins or uncertainty about who to contact between sessions (9%)

Despite those gaps, satisfaction levels among people who did receive help have improved. Satisfaction with mental health supports “is at its highest level in the past 2 years,” with nearly three‑quarters of recent service users saying their needs were fully or mostly met, according to the Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) report, which was based on a survey of 3,519 adults in February 2026.

A growing share of Quebec employees is juggling paid work with unpaid caregiving, often in silence — and that silence is putting them and their employers at risk of absenteeism, burnout, turnover and stalled careers, according to a previous report.

How are Canadians coping with mental health troubles?

MHRC reports that many Canadians are using positive coping strategies when facing stress and difficult emotions:

• 42% are talking things through with a friend, family member, or partner
• 38% are engaging in hobbies or creative activities
• 22% are using meditation or relaxation
• 13% have seen a mental health professional for support

At the same time, 21% reported relying on potentially harmful strategies, including alcohol, recreational drugs, pornography or gambling, “which could lead to addictive behaviours,” the report warned. MHRC said these patterns point to ongoing risks that may escalate into more severe mental health or substance use issues.

Canadians struggle to navigate support

The survey also highlights how Canadians are getting into the mental health system. Among those who accessed support, half (50%) said they “sought help on my own (self‑referral) … contacted a service directly without going through another professional or person.”

The remaining half were referred or had their first contact arranged by someone else, such as a family doctor, another health professional, or a family member, friend or caregiver.

“This shows that not only the patient but also their support network and other health professionals benefit from understanding the mental health system, helping those in need access care when struggling and unable to navigate it alone,” MHRC noted.

Stigma and uncertainty

Meanwhile, stigma and uncertainty continue to act as barriers to care. One in five Canadians (18%) “see seeking mental health support as a sign of personal weakness,” the report said. In addition, two in five (39%) “worry that people would treat me differently if they knew when I’m struggling emotionally or mentally,” while the same proportion “avoid talking about my mental health because I don’t want others to see me differently.”

MHRC found that nearly half of Canadians are not sure when their symptoms warrant professional help. Nearly 1 in 2 (47%) said they are “not always sure if what I’m feeling is serious enough to need support,” and one‑third (33%) reported that they “often wait until stress/emotional problems seriously affect my work, relationships, or daily life before seeking help.”

MHRC said the latest results reveal “concerning trends” in how Canadians cope with stress, navigate services and confront stigma, even as satisfaction with support improves among those who manage to stay in care.

Canada’s Gen Z employees are experiencing the fastest growth in mental health issues and chronic disease compared with other age groups, putting employers at higher risk of lost productivity and escalating benefits costs in the workplace, according to a previous report.

Supporting workers’ mental health

Here are some things employers can do to better support workers’ mental health, according to WorkRise:

• Build a mentally healthy workplace culture.
• Ensure visible leadership support.
• Strengthen mental health benefits.
• Revamp and promote employer‑sponsored mental health resources.
• Tighten workplace policies and practices that affect psychological safety.
• Create a healthier day‑to‑day work environment.
• Measure outcomes and adjust.
• Experiment with innovation, but integrate it into a broader strategy.

It pays to be proactive about mental health, according to HR leaders.