Question Period Note: National Standards for Mental Health and Substance Use Health

The quality and accessibility of mental health and substance use health services varies across the country. Furthermore, inequities in access to quality services are greater for populations that face barriers to care, including Indigenous peoples.

The Government is taking a compassionate and human-centred approach to ensure that individuals in Canada have timely access to quality mental health and substance use health services, regardless of where they live.
Health Canada has partnered with Standards Council of Canada to coordinate the development of standards/guidelines for mental health and substance use health services in key areas, such as Integrated Youth Services, with a focus on health equity.
The development of standards is being informed by evidence and engagement with diverse stakeholders, including people with lived and living experience.

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In fall 2020, one in five Canadians reported a need for mental health care in the past year. Of those, 45% reported that their needs were either unmet or only partially met. A delay in quality mental health support is linked to decreased positive health outcomes.
Among other priority populations, such as youth, Indigenous peoples and those identifying as LGBTQIA2+, these groups are more likely to report that their needs are unmet or partially met, highlighting the need to reduce barriers to care.
Standards are part of the suite of tools used to ensure services are evidence-based and meet an established level of quality and accessibility. This includes promoting health equity principles that support the needs of diverse populations.
Standards will be available for voluntary implementation in provinces and territories, including to support the implementation of their action plans within their bilateral agreements with the federal government (i.e., Budget 2017 and Budget 2023 investments).