Coordinated care management is the missing link in Canada’s mental health strategy; offering a proven, preventive approach that connects people to timely, equitable, and effective support.
Mental health and wellbeing challenges in Canada are no longer just personal struggles or isolated crises. Exacerbated by the unprecedented challenges of 2020 and the pressures of our hyper- connected world, they have evolved into a collective concern, that touches millions of people, disrupts families, tests workplaces and stretches public systems to their limits. For federal, provincial and municipal governments, this growing need has become one of the defining health and social policy challenges of the decade.
Coordinated care management offers a practical, evidence-based way to reset the balance: recognizing problems early, keeping people connected with effective support, reducing inequities and easing pressure on acute services.
The scale of mental health challenges in Canada remains significant. The Mental Health and Access to Care Survey (2022) found that more than five million Canadians aged 15 and older met diagnostic criteria for a mood, anxiety or substance-use disorder in the previous year. Among young women aged 15–24, the 12-month prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder nearly tripled between 2012 and 2022, while major depressive episodes nearly doubled.
These concerns have not lessened. The Canadian Mental Health Association’s State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 report shows that one in four Canadians say symptoms of mental illness affect daily functioning. Among men aged 19–29, 43 percent report moderate to severe depression, with even higher rates among racialized men (Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, 2024).
Older adults are also affected: in late 2024, Statistics Canada reported that six percent of Canadians aged 65 and older live with a diagnosed anxiety disorder, with prevalence higher among women (7.5 percent) than men (4.2 percent).
Need for care continues to outpace availability. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported in 2024 that 15 percent of adults said they did not get needed mental health services in the past year because of cost. Cost, awareness and fragmentation remain among the biggest barriers to access.
The Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative (2024) found that people experiencing food insecurity, unstable housing, or unemployment are far more likely to report poor mental health and less likely to access timely care. Youth face similar pressures: the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (2023) found that 21 percent of young people rated their mental health as “fair” or “poor.”
People experiencing mental health concerns often describe the system as fragmented and overwhelming. A single person may interact with family physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, crisis teams, housing agencies and peer support groups—often without anyone ensuring those pieces fit together. This lack of integration leads to duplication, delays and missed opportunities for early intervention.
A 2024 study published in PubMed found that caregivers of people with serious mental illness described navigating services as a “second full-time job” and said coordinated care management reduced both their stress and the risk of loved ones falling through the cracks.
Mental health care coordination provides organized, proactive support that helps people access, navigate and stay engaged in a continuum of services. It includes:
Preventive interventions only work when they are consistent and supported. Coordinators raise awareness, sustain engagement and identify risks early, thus reducing the risk of crises before they start.
Canadian evidence confirms what clinicians and caregivers have long known: coordinated care management improves outcomes. Fragmented systems leave people cycling between waitlists and emergencies, while coordinated support helps them connect sooner, stay engaged longer and avoid unnecessary suffering. Some of the measurable impacts of mental health coordination we’ve seen recently include:
Together, the research makes clear that coordinated care management is far from a marginal add-on—it is rather, essential infrastructure for a fairer, more effective mental health system.
Mental health care coordination changes how people find and maintain support. Instead of leaving individuals to navigate complex systems alone, coordinators provide direct, ongoing guidance.
These examples show that coordinated care management is not abstract policy—it is a set of proven, practical steps that improve outcomes and equity.
Expanding mental health care coordination requires deliberate policy action. Federal, provincial and municipal governments all have roles to play in embedding coordination within health systems: setting expectations, funding sustainable roles and aligning incentives with prevention. The most impactful recommendations for government agencies include:
These steps make the system easier to use, more preventive and more equitable, replacing short-term fixes with sustainable improvements in mental health outcomes.
Even with strong evidence, scaling coordination across Canada isn’t easy. Promising programs can falter when practical barriers are ignored. The most common challenges include:
These barriers are design challenges, not reasons to hesitate. With foresight, cultural humility and sustained investment, governments can scale coordination sustainably and equitably.
Governments need clear indicators to show that clinical coordination is improving mental health outcomes. Success must be measured not only by crisis response but also by prevention, continuity and equity.
Key indicators include:
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Canada deserves a mental health system that does more than respond to emergencies—one that helps people feel supported early, stay engaged through ups and downs, and avoid crises where possible.
Mental health care coordination may be the missing link, turning what we know works into what people can actually access. Policymakers at every level of government have a chance to formalize roles, integrate sectors, fund prevention, measure what matters and support the workforce.
Already in 2025, 31 percent of Canadians report that mental health challenges are significantly affecting their work or studies (Mental Health Research Canada). Without coordinated solutions, both cost and suffering will continue to grow.
With thoughtful design and compassion in policy, Canada can move toward a system that is less reactive, more humane and truly supportive of everyone.
At Serefin Health, we believe coordinated care management has the power to transform how Canadians experience mental wellbeing. We invite leaders at all levels of government to work with us in building a more connected, preventive and compassionate mental-health system.
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