Canada lags behind in mental health spending
Canada lags behind most developed countries in the amount it spends to treat mental illness, with Ontario and Saskatchewan spending the least, according to a major study of mental health spending in this country.
Canada lags behind most developed countries in the amount it spends to treat mental illness, with Ontario and Saskatchewan spending the least, according to a major study of mental health spending in this country.
The study represents the first time Canadian researchers have tried to measure mental health spending by province.
In 2003-04, Canada spent $6.6 billion on mental health, representing just 4.8 per cent (or $197 per person) of the total health budget, says the study, published this month in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. The amount is less than the five per cent that European health economists consider the minimum acceptable amount to treat mental illness.
That puts Canada, along with Italy, at the bottom of the list in mental health spending by developed countries. As a share of the total health budget, Britain spent the most (12.1 per cent), followed by Germany (10), the Netherlands (8), Denmark (8), the U.S. (7.5), Ireland (6.8) and Australia (6.7).
The research also shows wild fluctuations within Canada, with Ontario ranking near the bottom. As a share of the total health budget, Ontario spent just 4.3 per cent to treat mental illness, or $185 per person.
Only Saskatchewan, at 3.5 per cent, or $146 per person, spent less.
British Columbia was the top spender at 6.4 per cent, or $258 per person.
The study's findings have caught the attention of the Mental Health Commission, a new organization chaired by former Liberal senator Michael Kirby to figure out how Canada can better care for its mentally ill.
Howard Chodos, the commission director in charge of developing a national mental health strategy, says the study highlights the need for an integrated approach to treating mental illness.
"We do need to develop a much clearer picture of what the total amount of spending is on mental health in this country in order to be able to know if we're spending wisely and if we're spending equitably."
Because health care is a provincial responsibility, with different provinces providing varying levels of mental health services, it's difficult to compile a complete picture of how much is being spent across the country, says Philip Jacobs, project director of the Alberta-based Institute of Health Economics and the study's lead author.
As Mr. Jacobs is quick to point out, his study only touches on direct costs, such as hospital stays and doctor visits due to mental illness.
Not included are the indirect costs, such as income and employment supports for the mentally ill, mental health services for those caught in the justice system and school-based services for young people suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental health problems.
The resulting information vacuum makes it difficult for policymakers to identify gaps, improve service and provide integrated care, Mr. Jacobs says.
He argues that the country needs to develop clear, consistent measures to better guide spending.
"We're a low-spending country as best as we can determine, and to do policy, some effort has to be made to co-ordinate and organize the data collection," says Mr. Jacobs.
"The challenges they face navigating a fragmented and disjointed system would make people in the best of health blanch."
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Share of Health Budget Spent on Mental Health
- British Columbia: 6.4 per cent, or $258 per person
- New Brunswick: 6 per cent, or $242
- Prince Edward Island: 5.8 per cent, or $231
- Alberta: 5.6 per cent, or $242
- Manitoba: 4.9 per cent, or $219
- Nova Scotia: 4.9 per cent, or $203
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 4.8 per cent, or $200
- Quebec: 4.5 per cent, or $166
- Ontario: 4.3 per cent, or $185
- Saskatchewan: 3.5 per cent, or $146
The study represents the first time Canadian researchers have tried to measure mental health spending by province.
In 2003-04, Canada spent $6.6 billion on mental health, representing just 4.8 per cent (or $197 per person) of the total health budget, says the study, published this month in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. The amount is less than the five per cent that European health economists consider the minimum acceptable amount to treat mental illness.
That puts Canada, along with Italy, at the bottom of the list in mental health spending by developed countries. As a share of the total health budget, Britain spent the most (12.1 per cent), followed by Germany (10), the Netherlands (8), Denmark (8), the U.S. (7.5), Ireland (6.8) and Australia (6.7).
The research also shows wild fluctuations within Canada, with Ontario ranking near the bottom. As a share of the total health budget, Ontario spent just 4.3 per cent to treat mental illness, or $185 per person.
Only Saskatchewan, at 3.5 per cent, or $146 per person, spent less.
British Columbia was the top spender at 6.4 per cent, or $258 per person.
The study's findings have caught the attention of the Mental Health Commission, a new organization chaired by former Liberal senator Michael Kirby to figure out how Canada can better care for its mentally ill.
Howard Chodos, the commission director in charge of developing a national mental health strategy, says the study highlights the need for an integrated approach to treating mental illness.
"We do need to develop a much clearer picture of what the total amount of spending is on mental health in this country in order to be able to know if we're spending wisely and if we're spending equitably."
Because health care is a provincial responsibility, with different provinces providing varying levels of mental health services, it's difficult to compile a complete picture of how much is being spent across the country, says Philip Jacobs, project director of the Alberta-based Institute of Health Economics and the study's lead author.
As Mr. Jacobs is quick to point out, his study only touches on direct costs, such as hospital stays and doctor visits due to mental illness.
Not included are the indirect costs, such as income and employment supports for the mentally ill, mental health services for those caught in the justice system and school-based services for young people suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental health problems.
The resulting information vacuum makes it difficult for policymakers to identify gaps, improve service and provide integrated care, Mr. Jacobs says.
He argues that the country needs to develop clear, consistent measures to better guide spending.
"We're a low-spending country as best as we can determine, and to do policy, some effort has to be made to co-ordinate and organize the data collection," says Mr. Jacobs.
"The challenges they face navigating a fragmented and disjointed system would make people in the best of health blanch."
- - - -
Share of Health Budget Spent on Mental Health
- British Columbia: 6.4 per cent, or $258 per person
- New Brunswick: 6 per cent, or $242
- Prince Edward Island: 5.8 per cent, or $231
- Alberta: 5.6 per cent, or $242
- Manitoba: 4.9 per cent, or $219
- Nova Scotia: 4.9 per cent, or $203
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 4.8 per cent, or $200
- Quebec: 4.5 per cent, or $166
- Ontario: 4.3 per cent, or $185
- Saskatchewan: 3.5 per cent, or $146
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