Economic pressure is weighing on mental health as many people leave care earlier than planned or needed, new data show

National population polling also points to a community-connection gap and greater mental health and care challenges among people showing signs of substance dependence

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 22, 2026 /CNW/ -- Nearly half of people in Canada say the cost of living is negatively affecting their mental health, while 52 per cent of people who had accessed mental health or substance-use support report ending care earlier than planned or needed, according to the newest national polling from Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC).

The newest edition of Understanding the Mental Health of Canadians, MHRC's national population polling initiative, shows how people cope and connect, how economic pressures are weighing on mental health and what happens when people move through care. Across the findings, the key pressure points are not only symptoms themselves, but whether people have effective ways to cope, stay connected and receive support that meets their needs.

"Mental health is shaped by much more than what happens inside the health system," said Akela Peoples, Chief Executive Officer of MHRC. "People are trying to manage financial pressure, stay connected and find support that actually works for them. These findings reinforce why we need to look at the whole picture, not just whether someone is able to get through the door."

Among the findings:

• 46 per cent say the cost of living is negatively affecting their mental health, while 37 per cent cite difficulty fully paying household bills and 35 per cent cite difficulty affording or maintaining stable housing. Forty-four per cent say global political events negatively affect their mental health and 37 per cent say the same about climate change.
• Among people who accessed care in the past year, 65 per cent say support met most or all of their needs, but only 29 per cent say their needs were fully met. Only 14 per cent of people with severe anxiety symptoms and 17 per cent of those with moderately severe-to-severe depression symptoms say care fully met their needs.
• Among people who had accessed mental health or substance-use support, 52 per cent report ending care earlier than planned or needed. This rises to 72 per cent among people with severe anxiety symptoms and 74 per cent among those with moderately severe-to-severe depression symptoms. The leading reasons are not seeing real-world progress or improvement (16 per cent), not feeling understood or respected (12 per cent) and unclear goals or expectations (11 per cent).
• People showing signs of alcohol or cannabis dependence report much greater challenges. Seventy-five per cent and 78 per cent, respectively, report a mood-disorder diagnosis. Twenty-eight per cent and 25 per cent report needing mental health or substance-use support but not accessing it and, among those who accessed support, 84 per cent and 79 per cent report ending care earlier than planned or needed.
• Meaningful interaction is much more common with family (68 per cent at least weekly) and friends (57 per cent) than with neighbours (28 per cent) or community or organized groups (21 per cent). Among people with fewer social connections, 24 per cent identify mental health challenges as a barrier to connection, second only to lack of time at 28 per cent.
• When coping with stress, 43 per cent keep busy or push through on their own, 42 per cent take time alone or distance themselves and 39 per cent talk with a friend, family member or partner. Only 11 per cent see a counsellor, therapist or other mental health professional as a coping strategy, while 21 per cent report at least one potentially harmful coping behaviour.

"What stands out in this wave is how clearly the pressures connect," said Michael Cooper, Vice-President, Data & Partnerships at MHRC. "Economic strain, the ways people cope, whether they feel connected and what happens when they enter care are not separate mental health stories. The data show that people facing the greatest challenges are often also the least likely to have their needs fully met or to remain in care. That is exactly why tracking these experiences together matters."

About the polling

The newest edition of Understanding the Mental Health of Canadians is the 29th national survey wave and is based on an online survey of 4,005 people in Canada aged 16 years and older, conducted from July 27 to August 10, 2026. The national margin of error is ±1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

MHRC leads the project in consultation with experts who oversee survey development and guide data analysis, with data collection carried out by Pollara Strategic Insights. The results are weighted using census data for gender, age and region. The initiative has tracked mental health across Canada since April 2020 and is produced with a financial contribution from Health Canada. The findings on social connection were developed with GenWell, while the findings on personal stories were developed with Unsinkable.

Read the full report here.

About Mental Health Research Canada

As an independent national charity, Mental Health Research Canada works to enable a future where mental health in Canada is transformed using evidence, data and stakeholder engagement. We turn mental health research into real-world solutions by bringing together researchers, communities and people with lived experience, producing national population polling and rapid data reporting, and building partnerships that inform policy and improve outcomes. We also invest in the next generation of researchers through fellowships and studentships and foster collaboration between academia and communities. Upstream investments drive downstream solutions, because without research, it's just guesswork. Learn more at www.mhrc.ca 

SOURCE Mental Health Research Canada

Media contact: Andrew Ross, Director, National Communications, Mental Health Research Canada, Tel: [phone], [email protected]