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home / 世界杯决赛2022

opinion: internet-based mental-health care deserves a boost

ontario's government recently cut funding for online therapy programs. it should be doing the opposite, write jinyuru yang, abrar ahmed and peter zhang.

by jinyuru yang, abrar ahmed, peter zhang

nov 21 2022
read time 3 minute read
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digital mental-health care can play an important role. a 2022 report found that ontarians are seeking mental health support now more than ever. getty images/istockphoto

the impact of covid-19 on the mental health of canadians has become increasingly visible in the past three years. but what may be surprising is that things have not improved much since then. in fact, canadians reported worse mental health in 2022 than they did in 2020.

despite the growing viewpoint that canada is by now nearing the end of the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the long-term consequences of covid-19 and the resulting economic downturns. the 2022 financial stress index reveals that one in three canadians is experiencing mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, due to financial stress.

the public-private partnership formed between the government of ontario and mindbeacon to provide free internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (icbt ) had been a welcome response to the mental health needs faced during the covid-19 pandemic.

icbt is a form of therapy that is guided by a therapist but can be provided over the internet. although relatively new, its health benefits have been investigated. in a 2018 study,  canadian researchers found significant reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety after treatment with icbt.

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for the 60,000 people who enrolled in this program, this was valuable support that they may have otherwise faced significant barriers to access. this is because one major barrier to icbt is its cost, and while some insurance plans can cover the treatment fee of $525, this leaves the people most vulnerable behind, such as those who are unemployed, struggling financially, or unable to secure stable housing — people who need programs such as this the most.

a 2022 report found that ontarians are seeking mental health support now more than ever before, signalling an urgent need to increase mental health services across the province. however, instead of responding to the current mental health crisis with more support, the ontario government recently cut funding for online therapy programs by 85 per cent.

the current wait time for mental health support in ontario is unquestionably long. “in 2019–2020, half of canadians waited up to 1 month for ongoing counselling services in the community, while 1 in 10 waited more than 4 months,” according to canadian institute for health information data .” in some jurisdictions, wait times for mental health counselling services were longer for children and youth than for adults age 18 and older.”

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a long period of wait time between illness presentation and receiving care can lead to an exacerbation of issues. in the face of long wait times, icbt may offer much-needed help for patients, as care offered through online mediums can allow for quick access. additionally, icbt offers benefits that indirectly improve wait times. one of the most commonly cited reasons for delays in care is the stigma associated with mental health and seeking help. the ability to receive care online in the privacy of one’s home may improve access at the point of need.

one important question to consider is whether icbt reduces costs to our health-care system. one study suggested that icbt was cost-effective in the long-term for patients experiencing anxiety or depression compared to being placed on a wait list to receive usual care. additionally, while 5.2 per cent of patients deteriorated while on icbt care, 12.2 per cent of patients deteriorated in the waiting list control group. both findings suggest that icbt care can be a worthy investment.
if the province wants to address mental health care, the government needs to be willing to fund solutions such as icbts. while this may require upfront investments, the long-term benefits far outweigh any short-term costs incurred.

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jinyuru yang, bkin, is an msc candidate at the institute of medical science, university of toronto and reach alliance researcher. abrar ahmed, bsc, is a second-year md candidate at the schulich school of medicine at western university and a reach alliance alumna. peter zhang, pharmd, mba, is a hospital pharmacist and a reach alliance alumna.
editor’s note: data attributed to cihi have been clarified and updated.

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