New national data show most Canadians drop mental health care before it helps — and workplaces are paying the price in disruption and burnout
A new national poll has found that 56 per cent of Canadians who accessed mental health support left care earlier than planned or needed.
The findings come from Mental Health Research Canada’s (MHRC) latest quarterly report, Understanding the Mental Health of Canadians, published June 16, 2026.
For plan sponsors and HR executives, the data raise a practical question: is the support on offer working well enough to keep people in care?
What’s driving Canadians out of care
Why Canadians left mental health care early — MHRC Poll 28, June 2026 (% of those who disengaged early, n=1,276)
Source: Mental Health Research Canada, Poll 28 (April 29–May 13, 2026). Base: Canadians who accessed mental health services (n=1,276).
The most common reasons for leaving care early were:
- not seeing real-world progress (19 per cent)
- not feeling understood during care (16 per cent)
- unclear goals (13 per cent)
Early exit was most common among those with the highest need. Among people reporting severe anxiety symptoms, the early disengagement rate reached 68 per cent. Among those with severe depression symptoms, it was 77 per cent.
“Access to mental health support is essential, but access alone is not enough,” said Akela Peoples, CEO of MHRC. “People need support that feels practical, trusted and useful enough to continue.”
Workplace mental health in Canada is showing up in lost productivity
The poll points to measurable disruption across Canadian workplaces.
Among employed Canadians whose mental health affects their ability to function, 34 per cent say their work is highly disrupted, up from 30 per cent in the previous survey wave.
Burnout remains widespread, with 26 per cent of Canadians reporting feeling burned out most of the time.
Financial pressure is compounding the picture. Forty-five per cent of Canadians say the cost of living is negatively affecting their mental health. Thirty-six per cent cite concerns about not being able to pay their bills.
For benefits professionals, supporting mental health in the workplace has already been a growing priority. This data adds urgency to the design question — not just whether coverage exists, but whether it works.
Screen habits signal deeper strain for plan sponsors
Canadians who spend four or more hours a day on social media, entertainment, or video games are about twice as likely to report severe anxiety symptoms. The figures bear that out: 11 per cent versus five per cent for anxiety, and eight per cent versus three per cent for depression.
Among youth aged 16 to 24, 64 per cent of young women and 42 per cent of young men said they use screen-based activities to cope with stress or heavy emotions.
The findings align with earlier research on mental illness in the workplace showing passive coping often signals disengagement from care.
What the data means for Canadian benefits plan design
The MHRC data point to a design problem, not just an engagement one.
One in five Canadians (22 per cent) report using potentially harmful coping strategies — including alcohol, recreational drugs, pornography, or gambling — when under stress.
Benefits professionals reviewing workplace mental health in Canada may need to address not just coverage thresholds, but whether plans are structured to keep people engaged in care.
MHRC’s poll was conducted online among 4,044 adult Canadians between April 29 and May 13, 2026. The full MHRC Poll 28 report is available on the Mental Health Research Canada website.
For more coverage on workplace mental health in Canada, visit BPM’s mental health section
