Navigation of Mental Health and Substance Use Services Indicator
Higher is better. The higher the Top Box result, the higher the number of individuals who responded favourably.
(Total number of individuals who always or usually had support [Q5] ÷
Total number of individuals who always, usually, sometimes, rarely or never had support [Q5]) × 100
This measure is a Top Box result, describing the proportion of individuals age 15 and older who said they always or usually had the support necessary to move within and between mental health and substance use services in the past year once they accessed services.
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Total number of individuals age 15 and older who accessed mental health and substance use services in the past year [Q1] AND needed support to navigate services (at the time of the survey) [Q5]
Q1. In the last 12 months, did you receive any services for mental health and substance use?
Including
- Family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist visit services
- Counselling or therapy services
- Trained support group services
- Emergency department or urgent care services
- Overnight stay in a hospital or health centre
- Crisis support services
- Withdrawal management services, drug-replacement therapies or detoxification services
- Case management, youth worker or essential services
- Indigenous-focused services
- Culturally based services for immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized groups
- Harm reduction approach services
- School-based services
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Total number of individuals age 15 and older who said they always or usually had the support necessary to navigate mental health and substance use services in the past year [Q5]
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Methodology
Name
Navigation of Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Short/Other Names
Not applicable
Description
Proportion of individuals age 15 and older who said they always or usually had the support necessary to move within and between mental health and substance use services in the past year once they accessed services
Support refers to the receipt of guidance, assistance or resources from a professional, related to navigating mental health and substance use services.
Rationale
This indicator measures whether people always or usually had support navigating mental health and substance use (MHSU) services in Canada once they accessed services. It helps to determine whether individuals efficiently and effectively receive the MHSU services required to improve their health. A higher proportion of people who had support while navigating mental health and substance use services may indicate that Canadians are efficiently and effectively receiving the care that they need.
This indicator may help identify areas for improved health system integration and timely access to care. It may also allow the identification of population(s) that experience differences in navigating mental health and substance use services.
People who were not able to access mental health and substance use services or who did not need another service after their first one are excluded from this indicator.
Interpretation
Higher is better. The higher the Top Box result, the higher the number of individuals who responded favourably.
HSP Framework Dimension
Health system outputs: Person-centred
Targets/Benchmarks
N/A
Available Data Years
to (calendar years)
Geographic Coverage
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Alberta
- British Columbia
Reporting Level/Disaggregation
- National
- Province/Territory
Indicator Results
Update Frequency
Every year
Latest Results Update Date
Updates
Data collected from February 10 to June 30, 2024
Description
(Total number of individuals who always or usually had support [Q5] ÷
Total number of individuals who always, usually, sometimes, rarely or never had support [Q5]) × 100
This measure is a Top Box result, describing the proportion of individuals age 15 and older who said they always or usually had the support necessary to move within and between mental health and substance use services in the past year once they accessed services.
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Type of Measurement
Percentage or proportion - Weighted percentage or proportion
Denominator
Description:
Total number of individuals age 15 and older who accessed mental health and substance use services in the past year [Q1] AND needed support to navigate services (at the time of the survey) [Q5]
Q1. In the last 12 months, did you receive any services for mental health and substance use?
Including
- Family doctor, nurse practitioner or specialist visit services
- Counselling or therapy services
- Trained support group services
- Emergency department or urgent care services
- Overnight stay in a hospital or health centre
- Crisis support services
- Withdrawal management services, drug-replacement therapies or detoxification services
- Case management, youth worker or essential services
- Indigenous-focused services
- Culturally based services for immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized groups
- Harm reduction approach services
- School-based services
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Inclusions:
Individuals age 15 and older who answered yes to accessing MHSU services [Q1] AND who answered always, usually, sometimes, rarely or never having support [Q5]
Exclusions:
Individuals age 15 and older
- Who didn’t need support moving within services [Q5]
- Who didn’t need another service [Q5]
- Who refused to answer or answered “don’t know” [Q5]
Numerator
Description:
Total number of individuals age 15 and older who said they always or usually had the support necessary to navigate mental health and substance use services in the past year [Q5]
Q5. In the last 12 months, how often did you have the necessary support from professionals to navigate between services?
Inclusions:
Individuals who usually or always had support when navigating mental health and substance use services [Q5]
Exclusions:
Individuals who sometimes, rarely or never had support when navigating mental health and substance use services [Q5]
Method of Adjustment
Sample weight
Adjustment Applied
Covariates used in risk adjustment:
The initial weights were created using a methodology that incorporates weighted totals calculated from the probabilistic weights of a survey (i.e., the Canadian Community Health Survey [CCHS]) from which the target population could be extracted. The raking method was used to calibrate the initial weights in the survey based on provincial target populations in the CCHS. Weight raking was performed for reportable provinces only.
More information is available in Weighting for Navigation of Mental Health and Substance Use Services, and Early Intervention for Mental Health and Substance Use Among Children and Youth Indicators — Methodology Notes (PDF).
Geographic Assignment
Place of residence
Caveats and Limitations
- Survey results should be considered only representative of the surveyed population. The survey was conducted in a way that not everyone in the population had an equal chance of participating (non-probabilistic sampling). The use of social media recruitment and non-probabilistic sampling resulted in selection and participation bias. Weighting methods were used to reduce bias, but the following limitations should be noted:
- The survey was available in French and English. People who do not speak either of these languages would have been unable to complete the survey.
- Those without internet access or with low computer literacy would not have had the same opportunity to participate in the survey (non-coverage bias).
- Assessing mental health and substance use services in the previous 12 months is subject to the respondents’ ability to remember their experience (recall bias).
- Provinces and territories with fewer than 50 respondents are not reported.
Trending Issues
Trend assessment is not available due to limitations in the method of data collection.
References
Wu C. Statistical inference with non-probability survey samples (with discussion). Survey Methodology. 2022.
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Navigation of Mental Health and Substance Use Services Indicator. Accessed April 28, 2025.
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Comments
This indicator belongs to the Shared Health Priorities portfolio measuring access to mental health and substance use services and to home and community care.
More information on this indicator is available in the 2022 companion report (PDF).