TORONTO, April 12, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — The Ontario Psychological Association (OPA) today released an important report.Mental health in Ontario: Insights from AskForHelpToday.caThis comprehensive document provides an unprecedented look into mental health demands and the evolving role of digital health in addressing these needs.
Key findings:
- Surge in demand: Referrals will increase by 35% in 2023.
- Transition to private care: Insights reveal a trend toward private provision of mental health care and point to potential challenges in the accessibility and timeliness of publicly provided services.
- Regional disparities: Significant regional differences in demand for mental health services highlight the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access.
- Digital health solutions: The report highlights the critical role digital health platforms play in improving access to mental health services and streamlining the care delivery process.
- New onboarding features: OPA collaborated with Strata Health to introduce new onboarding features to AskForHelpToday.ca, making it easier to register and update your profile to meet growing demand.
Additionally, the report reveals the alarming issue of high cancellation rates due to lack of insurance coverage for mental health services. This highlights the urgent need for OHIP-style insurance to bridge this gap so that Ontarians are not let financial barriers prevent them from accessing the mental health care they need.
“Insights from AskForHelpToday.ca reports serve as an important call to action,” said Dr. Sylvain Roy, Clinical Lead at AskForHelpToday.ca. “They highlight the growing demand for mental health services and highlight the significant impact of digital health solutions in addressing these needs.”
This report is positioned as a resource for policy makers, health care providers, and stakeholders in the mental health sector to increase access to services, address insurance gaps, and improve quality of care. We advocate a strategic, data-driven approach to The full report is available here.
For more information, please contact us below.
Richard Morrison
chief executive officer
Ontario Psychological Society
richard@psych.on.ca
About the Ontario Psychological Society
The Ontario Psychological Society is a not-for-profit organization and the professional association representing psychology in Ontario. OPA is resolutely committed to advancing mental health care in Ontario through research, education, clinical excellence and advocacy.
