Table 3 Proportion of support and opposition responses for mental health policy options grouped by modified Nuffield Council on Bioethics Intervention Ladder categories for policy influencers and the General Public in the 2019 Chronic Disease Prevention Survey, n (%)

1 – Provide Information

Provide information to new immigrants and refugees upon arrival about common mental health problems that may occur with adjustment to Canada and available resources (Q55.10)^a

StO: 82 (5.2)

SoO: 109 (6.8)

SoS: 553 (34.7)

StS: 848 (53.3)

9 (4.8)

9 (4.8)

82 (43.9)

87 (46.5)

62 (3.6)

106 (6.2)

550 (32.0)

1000 (58.2)

3 (3.2)

4 (4.3)

33 (35.1)

54 (57.4)

Fund media campaigns and targeted education and programming that emphasize the importance of psychological health and safety in the workplace (Q55.13)

N/A

StO: 7 (3.5)

SoO: 8 (4.0)

SoS: 85 (42.9)

StS: 98 (49.5)

N/A

1 (1.1)

5 (5.4)

34 (36.6)

53 (57.0)

Develop public awareness campaigns against physical and sexual assault (Q55.14)

N/A

StO: 0 (0.0)

SoO: 4 (2.0)

SoS: 61 (30.5)

StS: 135 (67.5)

N/A

1 (1.0)

2 (2.1)

21 (21.6)

73 (75.3)

2 – Enable Choice

Mandate curricula/training related to mental health promotion, anti-stigma awareness, and suicide prevention among healthcare professionals (Q55.1)

StO: 21 (1.3)

SoO: 31 (1.9)

SoS: 447 (27.7)

StS: 1112 (69.0)

0 (0.0)

7 (3.5)

66 (33.2)

126 (63.3)

14 (0.8)

46 (2.6)

433 (24.9)

1247 (71.7)

1 (1.1)

2 (2.1)

27 (28.4)

65 (68.4)

Implement a school-based prevention programming that incorporates curricula on suicide and related issues (e.g., anxiety-prevention, resiliency-building, socio-emotional health) and expand workshops and peer support programs in schools (Q55.2)

StO: 32 (2.0)

SoO: 74 (4.6)

SoS: 450 (28.2)

StS: 1042 (65.2)

1 (0.5)

9 (4.5)

66 (33.0)

124 (62.0)

26 (1.5)

71 (4.1)

491 (28.5)

1136 (65.9)

2 (2.1)

1 (1.0)

29 (29.9)

65 (67.0)

Subsidize recovery and support programs in shelters to aid in breaking the cycle of family violence (Q55.3)

N/A

StO: 1 (0.5)

SoO: 5 (2.5)

SoS: 61 (30.7)

StS: 132 (66.3)

N/A

1 (1.0)

3 (3.1)

26 (27.1)

66 (68.8)

Provide maternal mental health resources in all healthcare settings (i.e., trained staff, information for referrals) (Q55.4)

N/A

StO: 0 (0.0)

SoO: 2 (1.0)

SoS: 73 (37.1)

StS: 122 (61.9)

N/A

0 (0.0)

2 (2.1)

32 (33.7)

61 (64.2)

Provide programs for parents to develop parenting skills and early intervention programs for parents of preschool-aged children (Q55.5)

StO: 29 (1.8)

SoO: 70 (4.4)

SoS: 524 (32.8)

StS: 975 (61.0)

0 (0.0)

3 (1.5)

71 (35.5)

126 (63.0)

23 (1.3)

71 (4.1)

519 (30.1)

1113 (64.5)

1 (1.1)

3 (3.2)

29 (30.5)

62 (65.3)

Fund the development of virtual, technology-based applications to help people access tools, information, and services to address addiction and mental health issues (Q55.6)

N/A

StO: 2 (1.0)

SoO: 9 (4.7)

SoS: 74 (38.3)

StS: 108 (56.0)

N/A

1 (1.1)

5 (5.5)

37 (40.7)

48 (52.7)

Build or facilitate partnerships across organizations to develop community-service based hubs, which provide a single point of access for multiple social services at one location for families or at-risk population groups (e.g., LGBTQS2 + , newcomers, people with disabilities, veterans…) (Q55.7)

N/A

StO: 8 (4.1)

SoO: 12 (6.2)

SoS: 75 (38.9)

StS: 98 (50.8)

N/A

3 (3.3)

2 (2.2)

34 (37.4)

52 (57.1)

Legally protect student groups that support the safety and inclusion of marginalized students, including Gay/Straight Alliances as a means of reducing stigma and discrimination in the LGBTQ2S + population (Q55.8)

N/A

StO: 15 (8.1)

SoO: 18 (9.7)

SoS: 47 (25.4)

StS: 105 (56.8)

N/A

4 (4.5)

2 (2.2)

23 (25.8)

60 (67.4)

Develop and implement inclusive, culturally competent program delivery and training for individuals working in suicide prevention, frontline workers, volunteers, and health care practitioners (Q55.9)

N/A

StO: 2 (1.0)

SoO: 3 (1.5)

SoS: 60 (30.2)

StS: 134 (67.3)

N/A

0 (0.0)

1 (1.1)

23 (24.2)

71 (74.7)

Fund housing services and income supports for individuals with mental health issues (Q55.11)^a

StO: 37 (2.3)

SoO: 134 (8.4)

SoS: 667 (41.8)

StS: 757 (47.5)

3 (1.5)

11 (5.6)

87 (44.6)

94 (48.2)

40 (2.3)

117 (6.8)

641 (37.4)

916 (53.4)

2 (2.1)

2 (2.1)

38 (40.4)

52 (55.3)

Promote help-seeking behaviours in men, seniors and other at-risk groups through phone help-lines, reduced individual cost, incentives, and reducing barriers to care (Q55.12)

N/A

StO: 0 (0.0)

SoO: 4 (2.1)

SoS: 75 (38.5)

StS: 116 (59.5)

N/A

1 (1.1)

1 (1.1)

34 (37.0)

56 (60.9)

Support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit control of mental health services (Q55.15)^b

StO: 122 (7.9)

SoO: 160 (10.3)

SoS: 509 (32.8)

StS: 760 (49.0)

13 (6.7)

18 (9.3)

57 (29.4)

106 (54.6)

139 (8.3)

159 (9.5)

501 (30.1)

868 (52.1)

3 (3.2)

4 (4.3)

39 (41.5)

48 (51.1)

Adapt best practices in suicide prevention used in training healthcare providers in collaboration with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit representatives (Q55.16)

N/A

StO: 6 (3.1)

SoO: 7 (3.6)

SoS: 60 (30.6)

StS: 123 (62.8)

N/A

2 (2.1)

2 (2.1)

24 (25.0)

68 (70.8)