The University of Manitoba has released a population-level review showing that the most commonly treated mental health concerns among Manitobans aged 15 and older are anxiety and depression. Using anonymized records from the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository, researchers examined health interactions between 2026 and 2026 to measure how many people sought medical care and where they accessed it. The analysis is intended to inform policymakers and service planners responsible for provincial supports, including the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness.
Led by epidemiologist Lindsey Dahl at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, the team relied on administrative data—a collection of anonymized clinical and service-use records—to create a snapshot of demand across the province. In this context, administrative data refers to routinely collected information such as physician claims, hospitalizations and prescription dispensations used for research without identifying individuals. The dataset included 1,169,605 Manitobans aged 15 and older as of December 31, 2026, and identified those who have sought or are actively seeking treatment.
Key prevalence findings
The report found that about one-in-five Manitobans aged 15+ sought health-care services for anxiety—roughly 20 percent—while approximately 16 percent sought care for depression. When combined, roughly 28 percent of the population were identified with a mood and anxiety disorder, a figure the researchers describe as representing an increase of about five percentage points compared with two decades ago. These numbers reflect people who have engaged with the health system and therefore appear in the available records.
On the substance use side, the study identified alcohol use disorder and prescription opioid use disorder as the most common diagnoses recorded in the administrative data: alcohol use disorder affected about 1.8 percent of the population, while prescription opioid use disorder was identified in approximately 0.7 percent. Regional differences were notable, with the highest rates concentrated in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Prairie Mountain Health, areas that include the province’s largest urban centres.
How and where people access care
The research also mapped patterns of service utilization. In total there were 28,539 emergency department visits for mental health and substance use reasons, made by 14,501 individuals in the province. Many Manitobans first present to local urgent care or emergency departments; however, travel for care varies by region. For example, residents in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority were more likely to stay within their home region for services—about 46 percent stayed local—whereas people from other regions more often sought care outside their home area.
Specialist and community care use
Approximately 22,000 people saw psychiatrists for mental health or substance use concerns during the study period, which highlights the role of specialist care in managing complex cases. The researchers emphasize that these counts reflect service contacts recorded in provincial systems: visits to private counsellors, community groups or unrecorded supports are not captured in the same way. This distinction matters because strengthened local community supports could, in some instances, reduce the need for high-intensity services like emergency departments.
Implications for planning and next steps
The authors note several possible explanations for the rise in treated mental health conditions, including improved access to services and a likely decrease in social stigma that makes seeking help more acceptable. The report is designed to support decision-makers by indicating where demand is greatest and which service types are used most. By aligning resource allocation with observed patterns—while attending to cultural safety and equity—the province can work to ensure that Manitobans receive the right care in the right setting.
Finally, the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy recommends that planners consider both medical services and community-based supports when responding to this elevated demand. The dataset and findings are intended to guide service design so that pressures on emergency departments and specialist clinics can be reduced through timely, culturally safe and locally accessible alternatives where possible.
