by Shannon Doherty, MSc Global Mental Health alumna, shannon.doherty@anglia.ac.uk
Canada is a nation built on multiculturalism, military peacekeeping, the National Parks system and health care. Even though one of the pivotal values held dear by Canadians is the health care system, there is still a 12-month prevalence period for mental health help-seeking [1] and only 1 in 5 children who need mental health services receive them [2].
All Canadians will be directly or indirectly affected by mental illness throughout their life course, with 20% of the population personally experiencing a mental illness themselves at some point [2]. While everyone experiences low points in their life, some people will face more serious illnesses such as mood disorders. These can include manic-depressive illness, perinatal depression or, most commonly, major depression. According to a 2012 census from Statistics Canada, 5.4% of the overall Canadian population aged 15 years and over met the threshold for a mood disorder over the past year [2]. Of that population, 4.7% met the conditions for major depression and 1.5% for manic-depressive disorder [2].
Particularly affected by depression are Canadian youth. The Canadian Mental Health Association note that 3.2 million 12-19 year olds are at risk for depression [2]. Of those that have actually experienced a major depressive episode, 12% were females and 5% of males between 12-19 years of age [2]. Even more alarming is that in the industrialized world, Canada has the third highest youth suicide rate [2].
A second, at-risk population in Canada is the Aboriginal people, with limited studies showing varying rates of depression and suicide across the country [3]. Suicide rates are disproportionately higher among the Inuit people in Nunavut with 29% of the population showing at least one suicide attempt over their lifetimes [3]. Due to the unique and complicated history of the Aboriginal people in Canada who have suffered abuse, displacement, forced assimilation, and marginalization, untangling the underlying etiology of depression is difficult. Considering the links between mental and physical health, the higher prevalence of chronic physical disease found in Aboriginal people as compared to the general population is especially concerning [3].
If depression is identified and treatment is accessed, up to 80% of people affected by depression are able to return to their regular lives [2]. Enabling youth to access needed mental health services is of primary concern to ensure they are able to recover and lead, happy, active lives To address mental health concerns within the Aboriginal community, more culturally appropriate mental health services will be the first step in a complex process to ensure recovery [3].
While the Canadian health care system is one of the country’s primary strengths and a value held high by all Canadian people, mental health services are underfunded and understaffed. Changes are needed at both provincial and federal level to ensure services become more accessible and more culturally appropriate. Helping Canadians affected by depression and other mental health issues should be a priority to ensure all those living in the country are able to lead healthier, happier lives.
911 is the national emergency number in Canada.
Kids Help Phone (http://org.kidshelpphone.ca/) is a nationwide 24-hour, toll-free, confidential crisis line and counseling service available to Canadians under the age of twenty.
Crisis Services Canada (http://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/) nation wide suicide prevention and support network.
Crisis Text Line (crisistextline.ca), a 24/7 nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline created in partnership with Kids Help Phone.[18]
The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting CONNECT (English) or PARLER (French) to 686-868.
Trans Lifeline (http://www.translifeline.org/) is a toll-free crisis hotline available in the United States and in Canada for transgender people staffed by transgender people.
References
- Kohn, R., Saxena, S., Levav, I., and Saraceno, B. (2004). The treatment gap in mental health care. Bulletin of the World Health Organization; 82:858-866. Extracted from: http://www.scielosp.org/pdf/bwho/v82n11/v82n11a11.pdf
- Bellamy, S., and Hardy, C. (2015). Understanding depression in Aboriginal communities and families. National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. Extracted from: http://www.nccah-ccnsa.ca/Publications/Lists/Publications/Attachments/150/2015-10-07-RPT-MentalHealth03-Depression-BellamyHardy-EN-Web.pdf
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