108 FEATURE
Powering Canada’s health system with data
How CIHI helps measure what matters
H ealth information has become one of society’s most valuable public goods . It informs policy, management, care and research, leading to better and more equitable health outcomes across the health system. Nowhere is this more vital than in mental health . Canadians are speaking more openly about anxiety, depression, and substance use, but truly understanding the state of mental health requires more than anecdotes — it demands accessible, comparable, and reliable data . At the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) , we help Canada see its health system clearly — including how we’re supporting mental health and substance use (MHSU) care. Who are we? CIHI is an independent, not-for- profit organization that has been a trusted source of data and information for Canada’s health systems for over 30 years . We ensure that Canada’s health data is high quality, connected, accessible, timely and comprehensive. By bringing together data from across the country, we turn information into insight — helping decision-makers, providers, and
Our data powers research, informs policy, and guides daily decisions in hospitals, clinics, and governments nationwide. We work closely with provincial and territorial ministries of health, regional health authorities, hospitals and professional associations to build a clearer picture of Canada’s health system . Data that drives change CIHI maintains 28 databases with over 10 billion records to provide essential and comparable data on health services across the country. These databases cover many parts of the health system including hospitalizations, primary health care, prescription drugs, health spending and the health workforce. Our databases aim to provide pan-Canadian data coverage that is standardized, comparable and linkable. This allows us to compare across jurisdictions and measure trends over time. We use our data to produce actionable analyses on high-priority topics such as MHSU.
Measuring mental health in Canada
Together with our partners, CIHI develops and reports on pan- Canadian indicators that show how well the health system is performing. We engage with clinicians, policymakers, researchers and people with lived experience
communities make smarter choices for better health.
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