This is a multifold problem where we simply do not have enough people in Canada, or in the world, due to a lack of trained individuals who are available to deliver these effective interventions.
The good news is that we don't need folks like me or my colleagues on this panel to deliver these effective psychological treatments. We have shown time and again, in all corners of the world, that individuals without a specialized degree—that is, peers, lay providers, nurses, midwives and teachers—can all be supported and trained to deliver these effective treatments for conditions across the youth period and the perinatal period.
Investing in non-specialist providers will allow us to have a return. Every dollar invested in this initiative would allow for a return of three dollars in savings to your health care system, as well as to work productivity. These are data that have been accumulating for the last 30 to 40 years.
Here in Canada and across the U.S., we are implementing non-specialist-delivered psychological treatments led by nurses and midwives, and I'm quite confident we will show that they are as effective as psychiatrists and psychologists delivering the exact same treatments.