AI is increasingly being used for healthcare triage, service navigation, service delivery, and communication, but service providers, developers and users have no guidelines specific to mental or substance use health to support its effective and safe use. The recently published E-Mental Health Strategy for Canada highlights the need for safety in this field.
The new National Guidance for Artificial Intelligence Use in Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care will provide guidance, tools, and resources to help practitioners, organizations, and health leaders in efficiently evaluating and implementing AI-enabled mental health and substance use health care services and solutions.
It will also support people with lived or living experience of mental health or substance use health concerns in making informed choices about these technologies, while helping technology companies design and improve such solutions to meet the needs of those who use them. The full guidance will launch in 2026/2027.
Request for Proposal: Development of Criteria for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use with Mental Health and Substance Use Health Care
The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction are seeking proposals from qualified Canadian organizations and individuals to support the development of Canada’s first national guidance for AI use in mental health and substance use health.
The selected consultant will help translate validated considerations into practical, actionable guidance tailored to key groups, including service users, clinicians, developers, and policymakers. The work will also help identify system-level requirements, including policy, regulatory, and governance mechanisms needed to support safe and equitable implementation.
This opportunity is suited for organizations with expertise in digital health, AI, policy, and stakeholder engagement.
Deadline: May 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET
Submit proposals electronically via email to: E-Mental Health Team, ementalhealth@mentalhealthcommission.ca
Early Findings
Through our literature review and environmental scan, we identified 10 key considerations for early guidance, along three main themes: equity, privacy and governance, human-centred care, and trust and explainability. We will refine these findings through engagement with expert advisory groups to ensure the final guidance reflects the unique considerations within the MHSUH sectors.
See our one-page summary for details.
By investing early in national guidance, Canada is positioning itself as a global leader in ensuring that technological innovation in healthcare translates into safer, more equitable outcomes.
Steering Committee
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Jeannie Borg RN, MA Leadership
Director of Clinical Informatics and Digital Health, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care
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Dr. Allison Crawford, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer, 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Professor Departments of Psychiatry and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Psychiatrist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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Chris Cull
Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Mental Health, Neurological and Substance Use Conditions
World Health Organization
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Dr. Christopher DiCarlo
Principal/Founder, Critical Thinking Solutions
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Anthony Esposti
CEO, CAPSA
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Russell Greiner
Professor, Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta
Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta
Canada CIFAR AI Chair and Fellow-in-Residence, Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii)
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Rebecca Jesseman
Executive Director, Mental Health and Addictions, Health PEI
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Dr. David Martell
Physician Lead, Addiction Medicine – Mental Health & Addictions Program, Nova Scotia Health
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Jonathan Morris
CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division
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Dr. Aislin R. Mushquash
Associate Professor, Lakehead University Research Chair in Youth Mental Health
Clinical Psychologist, Lakehead University
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Jason Miller
Person with Lived Experience and Technical Experience
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Norm Odjick
Director General, Algonquin Anishinabeg Nation Tribal Council
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Valerie Pisano
President & CEO, MILA
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Al Raimundo
Person with Lived Experience and Technical Experience
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Dr. Leslie E. Roos
Associate Professor, Departments of Psychology & Pediatrics; Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Clinical Scientist at Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba;
CIHR Implementation Science Chair in Human Development, Child, and Youth Health The University of Manitoba
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Dr. Ben Rosen
Psychiatrist, (Physician Lead, Psychiatry Emergency Services), Sinai Health
Medical Head, Psychiatry Partnerships with Northern Communities, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
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Carly Straker
Manager, System Quality and Integration, Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Division, Government of the Northwest Territories
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Dr. Gillian Strudwick
Scientific Director, Registered Nurse, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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Ashley Silversides
Treatment Manager
Mamisarvik Healing Centre
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Dr. David Wiljer, PhD
Associate Dean, CPD, Temerty Faculty of Medicine;
Professor (status only), Department of Psychiatry and IHPME, University of Toronto;
Scientist, The Wilson Centre;
Executive Director, Education Technology Innovation, University Health Network.
