Latest news with #MentalHealthResearchCanada
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Introducing Canada's Most Comprehensive Resource to Aggregate Data on the Diverse Mental Health Needs of Youth Coast to Coast
GreenShield and Mental Health Research Canada are launching the Youth Mental Health Data Hub, delivering unparalleled insights into youth mental health. The publicly available dashboard centralizes data from leading youth organizations to analyze key social and demographic factors and identify trends shaping the lives of young Canadians. TORONTO, April 9, 2025 /CNW/ - With social and economic stressors on the rise, Canada's youth require tailored mental health solutions now more than ever. Yet, for too long youth have primarily been treated as a monolithic group, rather than a diverse population with a complex set of needs. Despite the availability of services, 73% of youth who access mental health supports report that their needs are not fully met. It is with the distinct goal of improving the mental wellbeing of young Canadians, that GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, is partnering with Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) to launch the Youth Mental Health Data Hub (The Data Hub). The Data Hub is the first resource to unite Canada's leading youth mental health datasets, offering a first-of-its-kind dashboard that provides a national snapshot of youth mental health. Updated on a quarterly basis and uniquely informed by young people themselves, the dashboard highlights their biggest challenges and connects to partner databases for deeper insights into the issues they face and the services they use. The Data That's Changing the Conversation The Data Hub's interactive dashboard harnesses robust insights from over 25,000 Canadians to provide a holistic view of youth mental health. This data dashboard reveals critical gaps in navigation, access, and affordability across diverse sociodemographic youth groups, including: 29% of youth do not access support they need because they are unsure sure how to 18% of racialized youth struggle to find culturally sensitive care 30% of students cannot afford mental health support "As a non-profit, GreenShield is committed to tackling Canada's most pressing health challenges with data-driven solutions that advance our mission of Better Health for All. As a purpose-driven company, we have a responsibility to close the gaps in youth mental healthcare, and that starts with data," said Zahid Salman, President & CEO, GreenShield. "Our Youth Mental Health initiative is built on a foundation of evidence, ensuring scalable, sustainable solutions that drive real impact. The Youth Mental Health Data Hub is a critical first step—helping us better understand young people's needs so we can connect them to the right care, at the right time." The Data Hub is a publicly available resource designed to: Provide insights into key subgroups: Including youth of colour, LGBTQ2S+ youth, students, and household income, helping identify barriers to care. Highlight critical gaps: Addressing the urgent need for better navigation, access, and affordability in youth mental health care. Find solutions for long term change: Spotlight gaps in youth mental health services to drive effective solutions that can be scaled over time. "This Data Hub is a unique and powerful resource that will allow stakeholders to better understand the mental health needs of Canada's youth. By having access to current research data from many leading, credible organizations as well as information from youth themselves – organizations, governments and other stakeholders will be empowered to gain deeper insight into supporting the mental health of young Canadians. We celebrate the leadership of GreenShield in their collaborative approach to making data easily accessible to support evidence-based decision making for youth mental health," said Akela Peoples, CEO, MHRC. Not only will The Data Hub be a publicly available resource to policy makers, researchers and educators, it will inform GreenShield's Youth Mental Health initiative to expand access, integrate innovative care solutions, and ensure Canadians between the ages of 15 and 29 receive timely, culturally appropriate support. In collaboration with leading youth mental health organizations, GreenShield will make mental health support more accessible and equitable for youth. "By bringing together like-minded partners, GreenShield is spearheading a collective effort to transform the mental health landscape—ensuring that all youth, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the support they need to thrive," said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, Head of GreenShield Cares. "Addressing youth mental health is critical because the formative years are when lifelong habits and coping mechanisms are developed. Providing timely, effective, and culturally appropriate support can prevent long-term mental health challenges and empower young Canadians to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives." The Data Hub is a crucial first step in GreenShield's Youth Mental Health Signature Initiative, to inform the solutions that enable Canadians to receive the right mental health support at the right time. Further announcements will be shared later this year as GreenShield expands its initiative to drive impact nationwide. About GreenShield As Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health and well-being potential. We are revolutionizing the health and benefits experience with coverage and care in one place. Through our unique integrated payer-provider ("payvider") model, offering insurance, administering benefits and paying claims as a 'payer' while offering health services such as mental health, pharmacy, telemedicine and chronic disease management as a 'provider'. As a non-profit social enterprise without shareholders, we prioritize and reinvest our excess earnings to directly support underserved communities. Through GreenShield Cares, we've committed $75 million to improve the health of over one million Canadians by the end of 2025, focusing on mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. Our scalable initiatives deliver meaningful change in pursuit of Better Health for All. GreenShield is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, a leading Imagine Canada Caring Company, and named on the Fortune's Change the World list. About Mental Health Research Canada Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is a national charity dedicated to improving mental health in Canada. Mental health systems and services cannot improve without research - it is essential to understand needs and create real solutions. MHRC prioritizes meaningful engagement with communities and Canadians with lived experience to ensure research reflects real needs and leads to impactful solutions. We advance mental health through collaborative partnerships, studentships, seed funding, and data collection and analysis. MHRC monitors the mental health of Canadians and reports on it to governments and stakeholders nationally to support data-informed decision-making on what people need and how Canada's services are performing. Visit for useful data and insights. SOURCE GreenShield Holdings Inc. View original content to download multimedia:
Associated Press
09-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Introducing Canada's Most Comprehensive Resource to Aggregate Data on the Diverse Mental Health Needs of Youth Coast to Coast
GreenShield and Mental Health Research Canada are launching the Youth Mental Health Data Hub, delivering unparalleled insights into youth mental health. The publicly available dashboard centralizes data from leading youth organizations to analyze key social and demographic factors and identify trends shaping the lives of young Canadians. TORONTO, April 9, 2025 /CNW/ - With social and economic stressors on the rise, Canada's youth require tailored mental health solutions now more than ever. Yet, for too long youth have primarily been treated as a monolithic group, rather than a diverse population with a complex set of needs. Despite the availability of services, 73% of youth who access mental health supports report that their needs are not fully met. It is with the distinct goal of improving the mental wellbeing of young Canadians, that GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, is partnering with Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) to launch the Youth Mental Health Data Hub (The Data Hub). The Data Hub is the first resource to unite Canada's leading youth mental health datasets, offering a first-of-its-kind dashboard that provides a national snapshot of youth mental health. Updated on a quarterly basis and uniquely informed by young people themselves, the dashboard highlights their biggest challenges and connects to partner databases for deeper insights into the issues they face and the services they use. The Data That's Changing the Conversation The Data Hub's interactive dashboard harnesses robust insights from over 25,000 Canadians to provide a holistic view of youth mental health. This data dashboard reveals critical gaps in navigation, access, and affordability across diverse sociodemographic youth groups, including: 29% of youth do not access support they need because they are unsure sure how to 18% of racialized youth struggle to find culturally sensitive care 30% of students cannot afford mental health support 'As a non-profit, GreenShield is committed to tackling Canada's most pressing health challenges with data-driven solutions that advance our mission of Better Health for All. As a purpose-driven company, we have a responsibility to close the gaps in youth mental healthcare, and that starts with data,' said Zahid Salman, President & CEO, GreenShield. 'Our Youth Mental Health initiative is built on a foundation of evidence, ensuring scalable, sustainable solutions that drive real impact. The Youth Mental Health Data Hub is a critical first step—helping us better understand young people's needs so we can connect them to the right care, at the right time.' The Data Hub is a publicly available resource designed to: Provide insights into key subgroups: Including youth of colour, LGBTQ2S+ youth, students, and household income, helping identify barriers to care. Highlight critical gaps: Addressing the urgent need for better navigation, access, and affordability in youth mental health care. Find solutions for long term change: Spotlight gaps in youth mental health services to drive effective solutions that can be scaled over time. 'This Data Hub is a unique and powerful resource that will allow stakeholders to better understand the mental health needs of Canada's youth. By having access to current research data from many leading, credible organizations as well as information from youth themselves – organizations, governments and other stakeholders will be empowered to gain deeper insight into supporting the mental health of young Canadians. We celebrate the leadership of GreenShield in their collaborative approach to making data easily accessible to support evidence-based decision making for youth mental health,' said Akela Peoples, CEO, MHRC. Not only will The Data Hub be a publicly available resource to policy makers, researchers and educators, it will inform GreenShield's Youth Mental Health initiative to expand access, integrate innovative care solutions, and ensure Canadians between the ages of 15 and 29 receive timely, culturally appropriate support. In collaboration with leading youth mental health organizations, GreenShield will make mental health support more accessible and equitable for youth. 'By bringing together like-minded partners, GreenShield is spearheading a collective effort to transform the mental health landscape—ensuring that all youth, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the support they need to thrive,' said Mandy Mail, Executive Vice President, Head of GreenShield Cares. 'Addressing youth mental health is critical because the formative years are when lifelong habits and coping mechanisms are developed. Providing timely, effective, and culturally appropriate support can prevent long-term mental health challenges and empower young Canadians to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.' The Data Hub is a crucial first step in GreenShield's Youth Mental Health Signature Initiative, to inform the solutions that enable Canadians to receive the right mental health support at the right time. Further announcements will be shared later this year as GreenShield expands its initiative to drive impact nationwide. About GreenShield As Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health and well-being potential. We are revolutionizing the health and benefits experience with coverage and care in one place. Through our unique integrated payer-provider ('payvider') model, offering insurance, administering benefits and paying claims as a 'payer' while offering health services such as mental health, pharmacy, telemedicine and chronic disease management as a 'provider'. As a non-profit social enterprise without shareholders, we prioritize and reinvest our excess earnings to directly support underserved communities. Through GreenShield Cares, we've committed $75 million to improve the health of over one million Canadians by the end of 2025, focusing on mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. Our scalable initiatives deliver meaningful change in pursuit of Better Health for All. GreenShield is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, a leading Imagine Canada Caring Company, and named on the Fortune's Change the World list. About Mental Health Research Canada Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is a national charity dedicated to improving mental health in Canada. Mental health systems and services cannot improve without research - it is essential to understand needs and create real solutions. MHRC prioritizes meaningful engagement with communities and Canadians with lived experience to ensure research reflects real needs and leads to impactful solutions. We advance mental health through collaborative partnerships, studentships, seed funding, and data collection and analysis. MHRC monitors the mental health of Canadians and reports on it to governments and stakeholders nationally to support data-informed decision-making on what people need and how Canada's services are performing. Visit for useful data and insights.
CBC
05-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
How to deal with the intense stress of political, economic uncertainty
Political science professor Julie Simmons is no stranger to stressful current events. Though she's active in discussions around Canada's current federal election campaign, Simmons says it's the U.S. government's unpredictability — including threats to the Canada-U.S. relationship — that have her stress levels especially elevated. "I feel …the humanity is lacking in the statements and the decisions that are made by the United States that have very real implications for people struggling around the world," said Simmons, who teaches at the University of Guelph. She isn't alone in her anxieties. A survey published in late March by Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) found that 42 per cent of respondents experienced increased anxiety levels over the past month. MHRC surveyed 1,500 Canadians in late February to get their thoughts on how national and global events have influenced their anxiety levels. The survey was conducted in the context of events like the resignation of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, as well as U.S. tariffs, annexation threats made by the current U.S. administration, and the ongoing international conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas. University of Toronto Scarborough psychology professor Zindel Segal says he feels this anxiety too, and is stressed out by witnessing the dismantling of "so many institutions that we believed in." "I think [stress] is increasingly heightened and it's going to stay there for quite a while, not just because of the impending election Canadians have to face, but also so much of the news from around the world that seems to be upending assumptions that we took for granted to help us feel some measure of stability and predictability," Segal told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC podcast The Dose. As a distinguished professor of psychology in mood disorders, however, Segal says there are key steps we can all take — like accepting there are some things beyond our individual control — to learn to live with large-scale global events. How does stress affect the body? Segal says stress is a broad term that can be better understood by differentiating between temporary and chronic stress. Also known as acute stress, temporary stress is a short-term reaction to stressful stimuli, whereas chronic stress is long-term. "Temporary stress can actually be a good thing, something that gets you fired up to deal with the situation, harnessing your focus, your concentration, your motivation, maybe even your values and you decide to do something about it," said Segal. Common reactions to stress include fatigue, high blood pressure, muscle tension or chest pains, as well as digestive problems. WATCH | Stress can create long-term health impacts: 'It's all about how you cope,' says psychologist: Stress can create long-term health impacts: 'It's all about how you cope,' says psychologist 2 years ago Duration 1:49 In the short-term, these reactions can provide discomfort that ranges from mild to severe — depending on the source of stimuli — but in the long-term, this discomfort can cause serious harm to the body. Acute stress reaction symptoms occur within hours to days of a stressful event, according to the the International Classification of Diseases. A 2024 analysis found that "physiological impacts of chronic stress include cardiovascular issues, immune system suppression, digestive problems, and muscle tension." "In a sense, your body is acting as if it needs resources to put out a five-alarm fire every moment of the day, and eventually that wears down your organ systems," said Segal. It does this by producing hormones and other physiological reactions in response to the mind keeping our stress levels up, he says. Chronic stress can also lead to anxiety and depression, overwhelming people to the point that they disengage from activities that bring them joy. Dr. Jackie Kinley, an associate professor at Dalhousie University's department of psychiatry, also says the mind and body are intertwined when dealing with stress. "We have a stress reaction, which is evolutionary and designed to protect us and to keep us safe," she said. "When that pressure comes, your body responds to it and we have a fight or flight response, and that's natural and that's absolutely normal." Where things get complicated, Segal says, is when the mind has a difficult time distinguishing between the danger of something like a tiger chasing us and the danger caused by fluctuating stock market prices stemming from U.S. economic uncertainty. What can I do to manage my stress? Kinley says stress impacts our "brain circuits," explaining that responses to stressors can become hardwired, leading to habitual responses. Managing stress, therefore, is a matter of understanding how our bodies react to stimuli and training our brains to respond differently, says Kinley. Segal says exercise of any kind — including going for walks or doing yoga — can manage some stress levels. Breathing exercises, like box breathing, can also help. Segal also says that limiting so-called doomscrolling can also help reduce stress and anxiety. "Anything that feeds the tendency to bring up this world-on-fire sensation … is something that also can be unplugged from for periods of time," he said. WATCH | Screaming into the void | The Moment: Screaming into the void | The Moment 2 years ago Duration 1:30 Once a month, a group of women gather along the Grand River to unburden themselves by releasing their worries and frustrations. Segal says people who worry a lot should consider trying a technique called stimulus control. Essentially, he recommends people carve out time during their day to give themselves permission to "worry about every single thing in the world that you feel is going wrong." "You might even have a place in your house, like your worry corner, where you sit in the worry corner and just let the mind roam," he said. "So you're not getting rid of your worries; you're postponing them to the period of time when it's OK to worry." Stimulus control is a documented psychological strategy and a 2023 meta-analysis found that stimulus control — also known as worry postponement — "has the potential to be an effective strategy in reducing daily worry." Nonetheless, the same meta-analysis recommends further study. Psychological interventions like dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) can help us increase our distress tolerance in healthy ways. "It can be helpful for us to understand that, in turbulent times, we may not be able to fix everything," said Segal. To get through that turbulence, he said it's also important for us to identify things that provide us with some level of stability, continuity and connection to other people. Finding hope in sometimes hopeless situations Julie Simmons acknowledges that current political and socioeconomic stressors — including high living costs — are legitimate causes for concern. But she says she draws hope from both her faith in the Canadian political process, and her students' enthusiasm for improving their communities. "Even though it's a challenging environment, I see the energy of the next generation, which I'm not sure that everybody that isn't working around those soon-to-become taxpayers and soon-becoming contributors to our society have a chance to see," said Simmons. At the same time, she's able to manage her stress by connecting with her family, savouring the time she's able to spend with people who matter the most to her.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Data Reveals Escalating Anxiety Among Canadians Amid Political and Economic Turmoil - GreenShield Responds with Free Therapy Initiative to Support All Canadians
GreenShield, Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits provider, offering no-strings-attached two months of free therapy to Canadians looking to start their mental health journey. TORONTO, March 27, 2025 /CNW/ - As Canada-U.S. trade tensions escalate and the cost of living continues to rise, new data reveals nearly half of Canadians are experiencing heightened anxiety, with tariffs quickly emerging as one of the top drivers. Last month, GreenShield—a proudly Canadian-owned and operated non-profit health and benefits company—partnered with Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) to identify key trends and gaps in care for Canadians amidst growing economic and political uncertainty. The data revealed a significant spike in anxiety over the past month, with the rising cost of living and political tensions with the U.S. reported among the top stressors for to this new data: In 2024 there was a declining trend in the number of Canadians reporting negative mental health impacts due to economic conditions; however, the start of 2025 marked a sharp spike, with: 42% now reporting the economic downturn is negatively affecting their mental health, and 39% worrying about the possibility of not being able to pay their bills. Nearly 50% of Canadians reported increased anxiety in the past month, with concerns highest among lower-income households and women. Almost 40% of Canadians now cite political unpredictability and tensions with the U.S. as a source of heightened anxiety – second only to concerns over the rising cost of living (52%). Anxiety is highest in Ontario and British Columbia. Despite growing demand for mental health support, cost and accessibility continue to be major barriers to care – putting therapy further out of reach for those who need it most. As a purpose-driven non-profit and the country's fastest-growing mental health provider, GreenShield is committed to supporting the mental health of Canadians during challenging times. To help break down these barriers, the company will offer two months of free therapy to Canadians looking to start their mental health journey. The offer includes two sessions with a licensed therapist and an unlimited subscription to digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with no membership or commitment required. "Time and again, we've seen the deep connection between economic uncertainty and declines in mental well-being. As a proudly Canadian and purpose driven company, we're committed to reducing barriers to care for all Canadians as we collectively navigate this challenging time," said Zahid Salman, President and CEO of GreenShield. "This is about Canadians helping Canadians. Mental health is not just an individual issue – it's a national one. Ensuring Canadians have access to support during tough times strengthens the entire country." GreenShield's initiative builds on past lessons from economic downturns, including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which saw surges in mental health challenges. These moments have reinforced a critical truth that during times of financial uncertainty, access to mental health support is more important than ever, yet too often remains out of reach for those who need it. "Our data confirms that today's political and economic climate is fueling widespread stress and anxiety," said Akela Peoples, CEO of MHRC. "Failing to address the mental health toll of this instability could have long-term consequences for all of us as a country. We're proud to be sharing insights that can help Canadians build better solutions and we applaud GreenShield's impressive leadership in offering free support to all Canadians." As a non-profit, GreenShield operates without short-term profit-driven shareholders, enabling the company to prioritize people and purpose over profits. GreenShield is committed to reinvesting its excess earnings to directly support the health and well-being of underserved communities. Through GreenShield Cares, the company has committed $75 million to improve the health of over one million Canadians by the end of this year, with a focus on mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. By providing Canadians with a risk-free opportunity to try therapy – at no cost – with an inclusive network of therapists, GreenShield is helping to further reduce barriers to care for equity-seeking Canadians and advancing its mission of Better Health for All. Canadians can access GreenShield's free mental health offer from March 28th until May 28th, 2025 through GreenShield's website. Research Methodology: National Poll 23 MHRC's national polling is part of a multi-year effort to track the mental health challenges of COVID-19 and beyond. Since March 2020, the goal of MHRC's polling has been to capture Canadians' reported perception of their level of anxiety and depression, and to identify and evaluate the factors that influence mental well-being. Methodology: The online survey was conducted among a sample of 4,050 adult Canadians from Feb 4-24, 2025. This was the twenty-third poll of this study. Results between the polls are compared where applicable. This report focuses solely on the overall measures of mental health as well as the impact of the current economic conditions. While total results include the additional 4000 BC sample, these national results have been weighted by the most current census data in terms of gender, age, & region to ensure the total sample is representative of the population as a whole. Omnibus Survey A national one-time survey deployed to understand Canadians' experience with anxiety as it relates to current economic and political stressors. Methodology: The survey was conducted with 1,500 adults in Canada from February 20 - 25, 2025. A random sample of panelists were invited to complete the survey from a set of partner panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. These partners are typically double opt -in survey panels, blended to manage out potential skews in the data from a single source. The margin of error for a comparable probability -based random sample of the same size is +/ - 2.53%, 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census data to ensure that the sample matched Canada's population according to age, gender, educational attainment, and region. Totals may not add up to 100 due to rounding. About GreenShield As Canada's only national non-profit health and benefits company, GreenShield believes health care is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to improving health outcomes, driving systemic change, and building a future where every Canadian can reach their full health potential. We are revolutionizing the health and benefits experience with coverage and care in one place. Through our unique integrated payer-provider ("payvider") model, offering insurance, administering benefits and paying claims as a 'payer' while offering health services such as mental health, pharmacy, telemedicine and chronic disease management as a 'provider'. As a non-profit social enterprise, we don't have shareholders, which allows us to prioritize and reinvest our excess earnings to directly support underserved communities. Through GreenShield Cares, we've committed $75 million to improve the health of over one million Canadians by the end of 2025, focusing on mental health, essential medicines, and chronic disease management. Our scalable initiatives deliver meaningful change in pursuit of Better Health for All. GreenShield is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, a leading Imagine Canada Caring Company, and named on the Fortune's Change the World list. About Mental Health Research Canada Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is a national charity that serves to advance mental health through studentships, granting, data collection/analysis and strategic initiatives. As a leading mental health organization in Canada, we are dedicated to improving the lives of all Canadians by advancing mental health knowledge in unique ways—notably by leading, seeding and influencing to create better mental health systems. One example of our work is funded by Health Canada to monitor and report on the mental health of Canadians. We collect population data, analyze and report on it to governments and stakeholders nationally to support data informed decision-making on what people need and how our services are performing. Mental health systems and services cannot improve without research – research is an investment in the future. SOURCE GreenShield View original content to download multimedia:
