Advocacy groups decry Ottawa’s shutdown of mental health website, app

Mental health and addictions experts are slamming the federal government’s decision to shut down an online service where people could find free counselling and peer support over the last four years.

Health Canada announced in February that it would stop funding the Wellness Together Canada website and PocketWell app on April 3.

Despite a public plea from an alliance of 18 mental health and addictions organizations for the government to reconsider, the service ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

“We know that tens and thousands, if not millions, of Canadians are in need of mental health and substance use health support. And that has only worsened as a result of the pandemic,” said Sarah Kennell, national director of public policy for the Canadian Mental Health Association — which is one of the alliance members — in an interview.

Economic insecurity and anxiety about issues like climate change are also drivers of mental distress and people need free access to help more than ever, Kennell said.

“Cost is one of the primary barriers that (people) cite when explaining why they can’t get the care that they need,” she said.

Counselling, psychotherapy and addictions treatment are usually private, meaning that people must pay out of pocket or have private insurance, which often covers only a limited amount of care, she said.

“That’s where Wellness Together really filled the gap. It’s free. It’s available 24/7 to anyone in the country who’s looking for help,” Kennell said.

Health Canada launched the program on April 15, 2020 in response to the toll the COVID19 pandemic was taking on people’s mental health. The website and app connected people to peer support workers, social workers, psychologists and other professionals for virtual care, chat sessions and phone calls. It also provided information and resources about mental health and substance use.

Several mental health agencies, including Kids Help Phone, Homewood Health and Stepped Care Solutions, were contracted by the government through Wellness Together Canada to provide that counselling and support.

But now that the “emergency part” of the pandemic is over, it’s time for that “extraordinary” measure to come to an end and for the provinces and territories to take over, the office of Ya’ara Saks, minister of mental health and addictions, said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

“Provinces and territories are best placed to support the mental health and substance use needs of their communities by integrating these services into their whole system of care,” the statement said, noting that mental health is one of the “shared priorities” in recent bilateral funding agreements.

But there’s been “no evidence” that the provinces and territories are taking action to replace the free and accessible services the program provided, said Anthony Esposti, CEO of CAPSA, an organization that addresses stigma around substance use disorders, provides peer support and is another member of the alliance.

“Oftentimes the mental health and substance use health dollars (that) get transferred to the provinces get absorbed into the physical health system,” Esposti said.

CAPSA was able to increase its online group support sessions from two to 12 a week through Wellness Together Canada funding, he said.