New challenges and opportunities arising from the crisis
Calgary Counselling Centre has found that virtual counselling is as effective for clients as in-person counselling, and for some, even more effective. And this model is allowing for expansion of mental health services to more Albertans. istock.com
Research into the state of mental health in Canada confirms what our own experiences tell us – many Canadians’ mental health has deteriorated since the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
National data released by Statistics Canada in August 2022 showed that the prevalence of major depressive disorders during the fall of 2020 was more than two times higher than in the previous five years. The percentage of adults with self-reported depression more than doubled, and the number of adults reporting “high to extremely high” anxiety quadrupled since the pandemic’s onset.
And the proportion of Canadians reporting good mental health continued to decline as we moved into 2022 – even as pandemic restrictions eased and we were able to resume more of our pre-pandemic routines.
“I believe the pandemic is transformational in terms of the more open conversations we’re having and the ways in which our communities and workplaces are approaching mental health and taking action to make it better.
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After more than two and a half years of chronic stress and uncertainty, many of us naturally long for that elusive “return to normal” for our mental well-being. But there are no easy answers to the question of when our individual and societal mental health will recover.
“We can expect the mental health effects of the pandemic to last for a long time,” says Dr. Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO of Calgary Counselling Centre (CCC), one of Canada’s leading mental health service providers and a recognized Centre of Excellence in research in the counselling and human services industry. “And when people talk about going back to normal – the normal of the past is not what normal is going to be in the future. We don’t yet know what the impacts will eventually be; they will continue to play out.”
Calgary Counselling Centre provided services to Calgarians and other southern Alberta residents whose lives were upended by severe flooding in 2013. “Our research found that the mental health effects of the flood lasted for about three years,” says Dr. Babins-Wagner. “While that crisis had a huge effect on people in those flooded communities, it wasn’t on the scale or duration of the pandemic.”
Recovery from the emotional and psychological impacts of the pandemic will take time and effort, but at the same time, she says, this crisis has presented new opportunities to support mental wellness.
A jolt to bring mental health issues further out of the shadows
“I believe the pandemic is transformational in terms of the more open conversations we’re having and the ways in which our communities and workplaces are approaching mental health and taking action to make it better,” says Dr. Babins-Wagner.
“At many levels across the country, we have been seriously talking about decreasing stigma around mental health for at least 10 years,” she says. After years of this slow, often painstaking work, “the pandemic blew up stigma in a big way. Mental health in most places became a central conversation.”
As the conversations increased, so did the numbers of people turning to CCC for help. From 2019 to 2021, CCC nearly doubled the number of counselling sessions delivered, from 22,531 to 43,221 sessions each year.
“The pandemic was the catalyst to accelerate change, but I believe this enhanced focus on employee mental health is going to be permanent. ”
Some of those clients were people experiencing anxiety, sadness and other challenges specifically due to the pandemic, while others decided it was time to face long-standing difficulties.
“There has been a pent-up demand for mental health services. Research tells that individuals tend to wait five years on average before seeking help for their mental health challenges, and for relationship issues, they will wait seven years. What the pandemic did is call some of those people to attention to say, ‘I have to deal with this.’
“Another positive thing was the introduction of virtual mental health, which was a game changer,” Dr. Babins-Wagner says.
Calgary Counselling Centre pivoted to virtual counselling at the onset of the pandemic, in March 2020. Since that time, it has delivered over 115,000 hours of counselling to individuals, couples, families, children and youth. The centre’s studies show that virtual counselling is as effective as in-person care – and for some, even more effective. “We are still almost 100 per cent virtual,” says Dr. Babins-Wagner. “We expect demand for virtual services will continue to grow; its convenience helps us expand access to services.”
Expanding mental health services
The mental health-care system was under strain before the pandemic, and professionals in the sector have long been advocating for more funding of services and supports.
Governments are making new investments in the wake of the pandemic, and in Alberta, CCC’s virtual therapy innovations have helped pave the way for expanded services provincewide.
As announced in June 2022, the Government of Alberta is providing CCC with $6.75-million over two years to create a new division called Counselling Alberta, which is delivering virtual counselling services across the province including in rural and remote areas. The centre is also working with key partners in other urban communities in Alberta to expand affordable counselling services.
Elevating mental health in the workplace
The pandemic led to a major upheaval in the world of work, including through the expansion of remote and hybrid office setups.
Another key change is a brighter spotlight on the importance of supporting employees’ mental health, says Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
“Many people feel more comfortable talking about their mental health. And as these discussions come out of the corners and into the hallways, employers are increasingly sensitive to the health and well-being of their employees,” Ms. Yedlin says.
As workplace change continues to ripple through the labour market, more workers are putting a priority on their mental health and overall quality of life over other employment considerations, such as salary. Employers also recognize supporting mental well-being makes them more attractive to job applicants and shows that they are ethical and people-centred, says Ms. Yedlin. “And we know that prioritizing mental health among employees is good for companies and businesses and enhances productivity.”
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the annual economic cost of mental illness in Canada, including from lost productivity, is estimated at over $50-billion per year.
Ms. Yedlin has worked closely with the CCC and Dr. Babins-Wagner to raise awareness of workplace mental health and of tools and strategies that employers can use to foster healthier workplaces and ensure individuals who need help are encouraged to get it.
“The pandemic was the catalyst to accelerate change, but I believe this enhanced focus on employee mental health is going to be permanent,” says Ms. Yedlin. “These days we are dealing with additional sources of stress and anxiety, including the rising cost of living.
“Employers are working more than ever to help employees who are struggling and to make sure all employees feel safe and supported in their work environment. This commitment is a critical part of our new normal – it’s non-negotiable.”
To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com
To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition: Mental health