Promise and Pressure: How Digital Innovation is Reshaping Mental Health
Tracks
Ballroom 1 - In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
Ballroom 2 - In-Person Only
Springbrook Room - In-Person Only
Binna Burra Room - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| 9:05 AM - 10:05 AM |
Overview
Maureen Abbott, Director of Innovation, Mental Health Commission of Canada
Presenter
Maureen Abbott
Director of Innovation
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Promise and Pressure: How Digital Innovation is Reshaping Mental Health
Presentation Overview
Positive mental health worldwide has sharply declined from 2020 onward, reflecting the impact of COVID-19 and its aftermath. The demand for services subsequently surged, exposing an even greater global gap in availability and access to mental health services.
The message is clear: the need for mental health support is strong, but the path to care is too often marked by barriers such as delay, cost, and confusion.
Prevalence of mental health conditions is not evenly distributed, with variations by age, gender, and marginalized populations. The need to come together as an international mental health community to increase equitable access to quality mental health services is more critical now than ever.
In this rapidly evolving mental health landscape, there is incredible progress happening in e-mental health, with AI taking centre stage. These products save lives by providing flexible care options, reducing stigma, and boosting system efficiencies. However, the world is also experiencing privacy violations, bias, and technology lacking a human-centred design.
Together with a diverse network of collaborators across Canada and the world, the Mental Health Commission of Canada has spearheaded key strategies, tools, and frameworks to guide best practices in e-mental health. These include the E-Mental Health Strategy for Canada and the Commission’s Mental Health App Assessment Framework, which is being implemented in a provincial app library.
While respecting the remarkable developments in technology and mental health, the Commission is striving to reduce harm and loss of trust by ensuring that digital products are of high quality, safe, and ethical. A focus on cultural safety and amplifying the voices of lived experiences is the cornerstone, driving meaningful change.
As we embrace the AI era, the Commission is partnering to develop Canada’s first AI guidance for mental health and substance use health. Key considerations and themes from this groundbreaking work will be presented during this session.
Three Key Learnings:
1. The current landscape of mental health in Canada and the world, and the connection to digital
2. Key issues on artificial intelligence (AI) and e-mental health that span the globe
3. Learnings from the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s bold next steps in e-mental health, including app assessment, the E-Mental Health Strategy for Canada, and artificial intelligence guidance
The message is clear: the need for mental health support is strong, but the path to care is too often marked by barriers such as delay, cost, and confusion.
Prevalence of mental health conditions is not evenly distributed, with variations by age, gender, and marginalized populations. The need to come together as an international mental health community to increase equitable access to quality mental health services is more critical now than ever.
In this rapidly evolving mental health landscape, there is incredible progress happening in e-mental health, with AI taking centre stage. These products save lives by providing flexible care options, reducing stigma, and boosting system efficiencies. However, the world is also experiencing privacy violations, bias, and technology lacking a human-centred design.
Together with a diverse network of collaborators across Canada and the world, the Mental Health Commission of Canada has spearheaded key strategies, tools, and frameworks to guide best practices in e-mental health. These include the E-Mental Health Strategy for Canada and the Commission’s Mental Health App Assessment Framework, which is being implemented in a provincial app library.
While respecting the remarkable developments in technology and mental health, the Commission is striving to reduce harm and loss of trust by ensuring that digital products are of high quality, safe, and ethical. A focus on cultural safety and amplifying the voices of lived experiences is the cornerstone, driving meaningful change.
As we embrace the AI era, the Commission is partnering to develop Canada’s first AI guidance for mental health and substance use health. Key considerations and themes from this groundbreaking work will be presented during this session.
Three Key Learnings:
1. The current landscape of mental health in Canada and the world, and the connection to digital
2. Key issues on artificial intelligence (AI) and e-mental health that span the globe
3. Learnings from the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s bold next steps in e-mental health, including app assessment, the E-Mental Health Strategy for Canada, and artificial intelligence guidance
Biography
Maureen Abbott is a Master’s-educated Director and Certified Health Executive (Canadian College of Health Leaders) with the Innovation team at the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC). Her work focuses on e-mental health, policy, and research. She bridges people, systems, and technology to develop and implement evidence-informed tools, resources and strategies to improve mental health and substance use health outcomes across Canada. Maureen works closely with the Commission’s lived experience councils and is the Chair of the MHCC’s E-Mental Health Collaborative. Maureen has extensive experience with the not-for-profit health sector and has a background in standards and accreditation. Maureen led the development of national and international networks and is experienced in operations, strategic planning, and quality improvement. Maureen is a CHIEF Executive member with Digital Health Canada.
