New national polling that is the first of its kind in Canada reveals a gap between the rapid adoption of AI tools for mental health support, effectiveness, and public distrust, pointing to human-centred design as the path forward.
(OTTAWA) June 23, 2026 — New polling shows approximately six million Canadians used AI-enabled tools for mental health support in the past year and most find them effective. Today, the Mental Health Commission of Canada (the Commission), in partnership with Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) and Pollara Strategic Insights, releases the first nationally representative data on how Canadians engage with digitally supported mental health tools, including AI and virtual care, across every province and demographic.
Quick Facts:
1 in 7 Canadians used AI mental health tools in the past year
Three out of four who used AI and virtual mental health services found them effective for their well being
Only 14 % trust AI tools, just 2% trust them completely
40 % of AI users said they were more likely to seek professional care • Nearly half (45 %) who accessed mental health care did so virtually, in whole or in part
WHY IT MATTERS
Canadians are turning to AI as a convenient way to access mental health support. AI-enabled tools may offer greater convenience and accessibility. Among those surveyed, AI is being used because it is:
Free or low-cost; 46 % of AI users cite this as the reason they use it during a time when financial stress is itself a cause for anxiety.
Always available; 44 % of AI users cite 24/7 access.
Immediate and convenient; it can be used from anywhere without travelling or waiting for an appointment. For someone in rural Canada, it saves time and travel costs.
Seemingly private; 39 % of AI service users cite private, anonymous support as a reason for use, while privacy and data protection remain key public concerns. AI is most used for general well-being (42%), companionship (36%), and mild-to-moderate stress (36%), and 40% of AI users said they were more likely to seek professional care.
WHO IS USING IT AND HOW MUCH DO THEY TRUST IT?
Use is higher among Canadians under 35 (27%; 29% among men aged 25–34), newcomers to Canada (28%), racialized Canadians (23%), and 2SLGBTQI+ communities (20%), populations that may experience greater barriers to traditional care. Overall, trust remains low, particularly for AI-enabled tools, where only 2% of Canadians trust them completely. Canadians over 55 show the lowest adoption and trust.
VIRTUAL CARE: EFFECTIVE AND MORE TRUSTED BUT FALLS SHORT OF IN-PERSON SERVICES
45 % of Canadians who used mental health services in the past year did so virtually, with 75 % reporting positive outcomes. However, nearly 1 in 3 prefer a hybrid model that combines virtual and in-person services. The data signals what people in Canada need: well-designed tools for safer digital mental health care that they can trust.
THE COMMISSION OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR THE DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH ERA
The Commission is Canada’s trusted resource for safe digital mental health — assessing apps and tools, setting evidence-based standards, and leading the national conversation on guidance for AI in mental health and substance use health care.
As virtual services and AI-enabled tools continue to expand rapidly across the mental health landscape, there is a growing need for evidence-based insight into how people in Canada engage with, understand, and perceive them. The Commission partnered with MHRC to leverage their ongoing national polling initiative and provide timely insights into usage, attitudes, and concerns related to e-mental health and AI.
The polling is clear: Canadians want to close the gap between availability and trust. The Commission is working with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction and collaborators, provincial governments, technology developers, and health system partners to establish guidance for AI.
"Six million Canadians have already used AI for mental health support and most found it convenient and effective for their well-being. It is critical that AI is safe and equitable to increase public trust and reduce harms.” Lili-Anna Pereša, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Commission of Canada
“The people turning to digitally-supported mental health tools are often those facing some of the greatest barriers to care. Making sure these tools are safe, effective, evidence-based and human centred is a matter of equity. Ongoing research is essential to understanding where they help and where safeguards are needed.” Akela Peoples, Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Research Canada
