Fast Facts About Mental Illness

Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time either through their own experience, or that of a family member, friend or colleague.

In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.

By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.​

Major depression affects approximately 5.4% of the Canadian population, and anxiety disorders affect 4.6% of the population. [1]

Eating disorders affect approximately 1 million Canadians – between 0.3-1% of the population. They impact women at a rate ten times that of men, and have the highest rate of mortality of any mental illness. [2]

Substance use disorders affect approximately 6% of Canadians. [3]

4,528 Canadians died by suicide in 2020. [4]

Approximately 20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder. [5]

In 2011, 11% of 15-24 year old’s reported experiencing depression. [6]

Between 2008–2009 and 2018–2019, among youth there was a 61% increase in emergency department visits and a 60% increase in hospitalizations for mental disorders. [7]

​Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults between 15-34 years. [8]