Dr. Randi McCabe, Ontario Health’s Provincial Clinical Lead, Depression and Anxiety-Related Disorders, in the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence
By: Dr. Randi McCabe: Clinical Lead for depression and anxiety-related disorders
It is probably no news to anyone that symptoms of depression and anxiety 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 numerous treatments have been shown to offer relief to people struggling with depression or anxiety-related conditions, access to care has historically been limited. Psychotherapy can be costly, time-consuming and hard to find (especially outside of large urban areas).
The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program seeks to break down those barriers and improve access to high-quality mental health services for adults (age 18+) across the province. The core of the program is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
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, either by their primary care provider or self-referred through one of 10 OSP networks in Ontario, 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.
To learn more about the program, including registration and referral information, please visit ontariohealth.ca/osp .
Find out more about the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, CBT and the work of Ontario Health's Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence: Mental Health and Addictions Programs and Resources.
[1]Dozois, D. J. A., & Mental Health Research Canada. (2021). Anxiety and depression in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national survey. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne, 62(1), 136–142. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000251
[2] Randi: Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Lifetime Prevalence and Age-of-Onset Distributions of DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(6):593–602. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593
[3] Pybis, J., Saxon, D., Hill, A. et al. The comparative effectiveness and efficiency of cognitive behaviour therapy and generic counselling in the treatment of depression: evidence from the 2nd UK National Audit of psychological therapies. BMC Psychiatry 17, 215 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1370-7