Comment by thePhytochemist
8 days ago
I live in Canada as well. As far as I can tell there is basically no access to psychologists under the public healthcare system. You're just supposed to pay cash at about $150/hr to talk to a therapist (if you know differently please tell us!). For some people that's fine, but it's an absurd situation if, for example, you're underemployed/poor and facing related mental health challenges. Obviously paying that much to talk to someone can just aggravate the underlying problem.
Some people can access mental health care in the public system through their family doctor. But most people do not have access to this because there are not enough of this type of doctor. As far as I know the only other way is to wait until some sort of crisis then enter the hospital and there -might- be a chance to talk to a psychiatrist.
CAMH and other hospitals provide free outpatient mental health services from psychiatrists to the underemployed/poor.
As you acknowledge, if you end up so badly that you are committed, you can get a referral. They might be underfunded and understaffed but it exists.
"Might be a chance to talk to a psychiatrist" is inaccurate. You will see a psychiatrist quickly if you go to a hospital in Toronto. Can't say the same about rural areas.
The USA is much worse and we shouldn't try to generalize from their experiences. America has hundreds of free outpatient mental health clinics and their goal is to "suicide-bait" you into saying the wrong thing. Then they involuntarily commit you and bill Medicaid/insurance until it runs out.
Those are the hospitals you will never see a psychiatrist in, because they focus on profit and churn.
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