Better Access, Better Mental Health Care for All

Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health problems in Canada, and symptoms of both were heightened over the COVID-19 pandemic.^[1] Estimates suggest that just over one in four people will experience an anxiety disorder and one in five people will experience a mood disorder in their lifetime.^[2]

While health care providers can recommend a variety of treatments that have been shown to offer relief to people struggling with depression or anxiety-related conditions, clients may struggle to access care. Psychotherapy can be costly, time-consuming and hard to find (especially outside of large urban areas).

The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program offers health care providers and their patients an option which breaks down those barriers and improves access to high-quality mental health services for adults (over the age of 18) across the province. The core of the program is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Physicians and other mental health care providers can refer clients to the program through 10 OSP networks across Ontario (most networks also accept self-referrals directly from clients).

Why CBT?

We have more than 50 years of research showing CBT's effectiveness for the treatment of depression and anxiety-related conditions. CBT is recognized as a first-line treatment, and the majority of people who receive CBT will experience significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life^[3] (although the level of improvement may vary based on the type of condition and individual context).

Unlike other “talk" therapies that may focus on issues from the past, CBT takes a practical, structured approach to dealing with current problems. People are taught to examine ways that they think about the world and how they respond. Its action-oriented approach empowers people with skills that not only help them cope with immediate concerns but also can be transferred to other areas of their lives now and in the future. It can be completed in a relatively short period of time (generally 12 weeks for many conditions) and accessed in a number of different formats (self-guided, individually or in groups, with a coach or clinician, online or in person).

Of course, CBT may not be the right treatment for everyone, and a number of factors may influence treatment decision-making, including client preference, level of symptom complexity and other individual factors. Once an individual has been registered with OSP, they will be assessed and matched to a level of care that best meets their needs. Clients are monitored to ensure OSP is meeting their care goals; they may be transitioned to other services within OSP or directed to treatment outside the program, if required.

Free, Consistent Care for All

Depression and anxiety-related concerns (including chronic worry, social anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, health anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, and post-traumatic stress) are the most common mental health issues faced by people in Ontario. Through the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, adults now have access to consistent high-quality mental health care, free of charge, no matter where they live in this province. No one experiencing depression or anxiety needs to suffer without help.

Find out more about the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, CBT and the work of Ontario Health's Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence.