Why Affordable Mental Health Care Matters

Across Canada, one in five people will experience a mental health crisis in any given year, yet fewer than half will receive the help they need. The reasons vary, but cost is the most consistent barrier. For many, the price of a single counselling session—often ranging from $120 to $200—is simply out of reach. The result is that mental health support becomes a privilege for those who can afford it, rather than a basic form of health care accessible to everyone.

At Step Forward Health Society, we see the consequences of this gap every day. Without access to professional counselling, individuals often have to rely on self-help resources, online advice, or the informal support of friends and family. While these can provide comfort, they are no substitute for the knowledge and therapeutic tools of a trained counsellor. Professional support can mean the difference between coping and breaking down, between managing daily struggles and being overwhelmed by them.

One of our clients put it best:

"I have had the gracious opportunity, through the Step Forward Program, to work on a personal level with my counsellor, for which I am very grateful.

I continue to appreciate his expertise, knowledge and commitment. He continues to support my growth, in working together on my mental health, and helping me in navigating the daily difficulties associated with living with mental health difficulties. This wouldn’t have been possible without his understanding, and the generosity of the Step Forward Program. I am forever indebted to both, for his/their dedication in helping people above all else.”

Stories like this underscore why affordability matters. Mental health challenges don’t discriminate based on income, but the public healthcare system often does. Those with extended health benefits or disposable income can receive timely, consistent care, while those without may wait months in the public system—or forgo help altogether. The long-term costs are staggering: untreated mental health conditions contribute to higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, chronic illness, and self-harm. In Canada, nearly one in four people report symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress severe enough to limit their daily lives. For scale, picture your closest friends and family, and separate a quarter of them. All of those people you separated are in desperate need of professional help, but many won’t get it because of the cost.

When counselling is affordable, however, people can seek help early rather than waiting until they are in crisis. They can build coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and sustain employment. More importantly, they can escape the barriers keeping them trapped in cycles of suffering and silence and reclaim a sense of dignity and hope.

The truth is simple: communities are stronger when mental health is prioritised as a public good rather than a private luxury. Affordable access to trained counsellors ensures that people from every walk of life have the opportunity to heal and thrive. That is why Step Forward Health Society exists—to stand in the gap, to make expert care possible, and to remind people that they are not alone.

And this is where you, our supporters, make all the difference. Your generosity keeps counselling within reach for people who might otherwise go without. Every moment of hope sparked by a caring counsellor is possible because of donors like you. On behalf of those we serve, thank you for believing that mental health care should be accessible to all.

As we move deeper into the second half of 2025, we invite you to keep standing with us. The need continues to grow, and your support ensures that no one is left behind. Together, we can make affordable mental health care a reality—and in doing so, we can change lives, families, and communities for the better.

💚 Donate today to keep mental health care moving forward—for everyone.