• Key Facts

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  People with mental health problems and illnesses are more likely to die prematurely, decreasing a person's life expectancy by 10 to 20 years (Chesney et al., 2014).

• Mental health problems and illnesses are the leading cause of disability in Canada. (Canada M. H., 2014)

  
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  The disease burden of mental health problems and illnesses in Ontario alone is 1.5 times higher than all cancers and seven times higher than all infectious diseases. (Ratnasingham et al., 2012)

• Approximately 4,000 people in Canada die by suicide each year. (Statistics Canada, 2019)

  
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  Young people aged 15 to 24 years are more likely than any other age group to experience a mental health problem or illness, making them the most vulnerable age group. (Statistics Canada, 2017c)

The economic impact of mental illness in Canada is estimated at well over $50 billion each year. The direct costs are public and private expenditures for health care and social services; however, the economy absorbs indirect or spillover costs due to factors such as lost productivity and work-related disability (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2017).

It is estimated that at least 500,000 of the employed population in Canada are unable to work each week due to a mental health problem or illness (Dewa et al., 2010; Statistics Canada, 2011). For those suffering from a severe mental illness, the unemployment rate is between 70% - 90%. (Marwaha & Johnson, 2004)

Mental health problems and illnesses can also have a profound effect on the daily lives of individuals, often due to factors such as stigma, social isolation and discrimination.

Research in Canada indicates that roughly half of Canadians believe that a mental health problem or illness is an excuse for poor behaviour. Only 1/3 of Canadians say they would continue to be friends with someone who has an alcohol use problem, and 1/4 would continue to be friends with someone who has a drug use problem (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2014).