Policy and Research Team Resources
The high cost of living in Canada has led to increased financial insecurity, pressures on food and housing affordability, and income inequality —which all significantly impact mental health and well-being. Inequities are experienced differently by people with mental health-related disabilities, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, rural and remote communities, newcomer and racialized communities, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, women, men, children, youth, older adults, and unpaid caregivers. The highlights include key messages, intersectional issues, and policy recommendations.
This policy brief summarizes emerging evidence, discusses important mental health policy considerations, and highlights the amplified impact for equity-deserving populations using an intersectional lens. Key messages include:
- Financial security and mental health have always been closely linked: negative mental health outcomes are more highly concentrated at lower income levels, and mental health problems and illnesses can lead to financial insecurity.
- Inequities in finances and other social determinants of health present barriers to accessing mental health supports in Canada and need to be addressed through a system-wide response.
While integrated services for mental health and substance use health (MHSUH) have been studied for more than two decades no recent or comprehensive reviews exist — particularly with a peer research methodology — on how the people who use these services experience integration.
