As demand for mental health care continues to grow, primary care remains a critical entry point for people seeking support. Across Canada, there is increasing recognition of the need to better integrate mental health services within primary care settings to improve access, coordination, and outcomes.

To support this effort, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (the Commission) worked with the Canadian Health Workforce Network to conduct a rapid review examining how mental health care is being integrated into primary care systems across Canada and internationally. The findings provide a snapshot of current practices, innovations, and opportunities to strengthen integrated, team-based approaches to care. The results are intended to inform policy, planning, and system transformation, helping to advance more equitable, accessible, and person-centred mental health care within primary care.

Key opportunities include the following:

• Growing workforce capacity and skills for sustainable team-based care
• Scaling equitable, community-led, and culturally safe models of integrated care
• Expanding virtual tools to enhance access to care
• Strengthening data and evaluation for system learning
• Enhancing coordinated responses to emerging mental health needs

Learn more about our work in integrated care.