A practical guide to more personalized mental health support

May 11, 2026 | 6 min read

Starting mental health treatment – whether booking a therapist for the first time or asking your doctor about medication – can feel overwhelming, and the process isn’t always smooth.

The good news: You may have more tools than you realize, including community support, family doctors or nurse practitioners, and workplace resources. Some benefit plans also offer access to medical second opinions and pharmacogenetic testing, which can help tailor medications to the individual.

Here’s a practical guide from first conversation to next steps, plus tools that can help personalize care along the way.

It can sometimes be hard to tell when your mental health is slipping. Dr. Jo Henderson, a senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), suggests keeping an eye out for subtle signs. “If you feel like you don't have the motivation you used to have, or you're not enjoying things in the same way, that can be a sign it’s worth talking to someone,” they say.

Checking in early can make a difference. A 2024 study¹ from the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute found that an early intervention program for young adults with mood and anxiety concerns was associated with significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.

A good first step is talking to a family doctor, suggests Dr. Henderson. “You can share your challenges with them and explore the idea of medication or therapy.” They will often start by exploring your symptoms, they might suggest a diagnosis for your situation, and may be able to share resources, help determine what medication to try, or direct you to a mental health specialist or practitioner.

You can also check your benefits plan for access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), which can connect you with a counsellor for short-term support and mapping next steps. There are online resources as well, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, which offers crisis phone numbers, support groups, and directories of therapists. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (its Women's Health Research Cluster, part of the womenmind initiative, is supported by Manulife) also has a mental health toolkit² available online with contact numbers and resources. 

No matter where you start, “taking these first steps will lead you to the next stage, and ultimately toward better health in the future,” says Jennifer Foubert, Manulife Canada’s assistant vice president and head of product and growth for Group Benefits. In 2024, among Manulife Group Benefits mental health claimants, 27 per cent used therapy, 62 per cent used medication, and 11 per cent used both — a reflection that there isn’t one “right” approach, but for each individual on their mental health journey, there might be a different set of treatment approaches that work best.

The first few sessions working with a therapist or counsellor are about fit and goals. That might include completing questionnaires or self-assessments to establish a baseline, and from there, possible strategies to help with symptoms. “It's important that you establish some kind of fit between your needs and your preferences and what various clinicians have to offer,” says Dr. Henderson. “Those introductory conversations are really important for you to get a better understanding of the person's approach."

There’s no obligation to continue if the fit isn’t right, they say, and recommends checking in every few sessions about what is and isn’t working. But a bit of discomfort is normal, they caution. “Part of engaging in mental health treatment will be talking about things, answering questions or engaging with material that maybe you don't necessarily always want to talk about.”

Another piece of the puzzle for mental health is medication. If you and your clinician decide to consider this path, a primary care physician or a psychiatrist can review options with you, prescribe medications where needed, and follow your symptoms and make changes to the prescription to optimize your treatment.

“Therapy and medication, especially when used together, can significantly improve outcomes, and starting care early often leads to better, more lasting results,” says Dr. Andrew Morgan, a psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic Canada, which is the medical director for Manulife Canada’s Group Benefits.

It can take time to find the right medication and dosage. “Antidepressants don't work in a day or two,” Dr. Morgan adds. “People will often start noticing a benefit within two to four weeks or so, and then the full benefit might take eight weeks or longer.”

Numerous studies³ suggest that approximately half of people who are prescribed medication for depression respond to the first prescription they are given⁴.

Pharmacogenetic testing can also help to find the right medication, Dr. Morgan says. This testing, available through some Manulife Canada’s benefits plans, uses a saliva sample to analyze gene variants related to drug metabolism. According to a 2023 Manulife analysis, 80 per cent of people who utilized the program changed their medication or dosage; and 86 per cent of those people self-reported improved mental health symptoms.

While pharmacogenetic testing isn’t recommended for everyone starting an antidepressant, “if you’ve tried a few different medications or have experienced significant side effects from a low dose of medication, it could be a good option,” says Dr. Morgan.

For a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, bipolar, generalized anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a second opinion can sometimes clarify next steps. Manulife’s Medical Second Opinion program connects eligible members with specialists who review records and provide an opinion and treatment recommendations to share with a primary care physician.

“Medicine is a rapidly evolving field,” says Dr. Morgan. “A second opinion can give suggestions on any further testing that might be needed, suggest other diagnoses to consider, or provide next steps to try in treatment.”

Finding effective mental health treatment is rarely a straight line. It may take time to find the right clinician, the most helpful approach, or the combination of tools that work for you. With the resources available, through your community, your workplace benefits, and your care team, you can make informed choices and keep moving toward what feels right for your wellbeing.

“Making that first step can feel extremely difficult,” Foubert says. “Knowing what resources you have to help in the journey can ultimately lead to care that feels more personal and helps you feel more in control.”

This story was originally published in CBC on April 30, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat a condition. If you have questions or concerns about your specific situation or are seeking medical advice, contact your medical doctor or your health-care provider.

CAMH
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is the largest mental health hospital in Canada, and a world leader in mental health and addiction research. One of the biggest issues in our health care system is the perception that mental health isn’t as important as physical health, even though 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness in any given year. Mental Health is Health is a new campaign rallying Canadians in support of giving mental illness the same priority as any other illness. To learn more about the campaign visit camh.ca/mentalhealthishealth.

Cleveland Clinic Canada
Manulife is proud to have Cleveland Clinic Canada on board as Medical Director for our Group Benefits operations. Cleveland Clinic Canada has a wealth of global health care expertise and shares our goal to help Canadians live longer, healthier, and better lives. Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit organization that has been at the forefront of modern medicine since 1921. In recent years, Cleveland Clinic has worked with progressive companies in Canada and around the world to prioritize the health and well-being of their employees, customers, and communities.