People with mental illness would seem, on the surface, to have all the support they require in a country like Canada where there is universal healthcare. However, the truth is, people with mental illness face a number of challenges and barrier to accessing the full spectrum of support they require to live a full life. First, although psychiatric services are covered under universal healthcare, there can often be a very long wait to see someone. This is especially true in a small town, or rural area, where there are very few licensed psychiatrists, where people often have to travel a long distance to see someone. Another problem is that not everyone is comfortable with the psychiatric model of treatment, and would prefer to see a psychologist or social worker. But they are not covered under government healthcare, and the cost can be prohibitive for many people.
The next barrier that is surely a considerable problem for many people is access to the newer medications. Once again, these are not covered under healthcare, and they too can be prohibitively expensive. In fact, all of a person’s medications must be paid for by the individual, and this can become problematic for people on low income. Therefore, some people simply forego medication altogether which can mean their symptoms increase and their condition deteriorates. In 2013, The Globe and Mail,wrote an informative piece on this topic and stated: “An estimated 1.2 million Canadian children are affected by mental illness. Yet, only one in four gets appropriate treatment”