Mental health-related disabilities in Canada, 2017

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Release date: January 30, 2019
Mental health-related disabilities in Canada, 2017
Mental health-related disabilities in Canada, 2017

Mental health-related disabilities in Canada, 2017

The Canadian Survey on Disability covers Canadians aged 15 years and over who experience limitations in their everyday activities because of a long term condition or health-related problem.

Over 2 million Canadians aged 15 years and over have a mental health-related disability. This represents 7% of Canadian adults and youth.

Four of the most frequently reported mental health-related conditions are:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Severe stress disorders

Among youth, women are twice as likely as men to have a mental health-related disability.

Youth aged 15 to 24

  • Women: 11%
  • Men: 5%

4 in 5 Canadians with a mental health-related disability also have at least one other type of disability.

63 percent of those with a mental health-related disability also have a pain-related disability.

Nearly half of employed Canadians with a mental health-related disability feel that one or more of their conditions makes it difficult to change or advance in their job.

Of these, 1 in 4 believe it is due to discrimination or stigma.

Over 1 million Canadians with a mental health-related disability require counselling services from a psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or social worker.

  • 519,400 received some counselling but require more
  • 286,400 required counselling but did not receive any

Note: Persons with a mental health-related disability are identified as those who experience limitations in their daily activities because of difficulties with an emotional, psychological or mental health condition (e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, anorexia, etc.).

Source: Canadian Survey on Disability, 2017.

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