Transforming Mental Health Care: Collaborative Models Enhancing Access and Outcomes in Canada

Mental health disorders, particularly depression, affect nearly one in five Canadians annually, yet many face barriers to timely care due to provider shortages, long wait times, and fragmented services. Primary care providers are often the first point of contact for mental health concerns but lack adequate resources, leading to inconsistent care and poor patient outcomes. The collaborative care model (CCM) integrates mental health services into primary care by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, improving treatment adherence, reducing symptoms, and optimizing healthcare resources. This study is a systematic review of the literature on the impact of the collaborative care model on depression treatment in Canada by analyzing studies from PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL. Key themes uncovered include improved patient outcomes, enhanced accessibility, and challenges in implementation, such as provider training and funding constraints. These findings emphasize the need for policy and system-level support to enhance CCM’s effectiveness. Future research can employ a quantitative randomized controlled trial assessing long-term patient outcomes and qualitative studies exploring provider experiences with CCM implementation.