Mental health treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, you can. A doctor on Maple will want to discuss your current emotional state, your medical history, and any symptoms or signs of mental illness you’re experiencing.

In many cases, the doctor will want to have physical and psychological evaluations performed before offering a mental illness diagnosis. They may also suggest additional testing be done at a medical clinic before suggesting any mental illness treatments.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications for mental illness online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for your mental illness, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

Also known as mental health disorders, mental illness is the term we use to describe a wide range of mental health conditions. These affect the way we think of ourselves, connect with others, and function in our daily lives. These are disorders that can affect your thinking, your behavior, or your mood. Culture, beliefs, and background all influence how we understand mental illness.

A substantial percentage of people will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. However, when the symptoms or signs of mental illness are chronic, severe, or begin to affect your daily life, the condition becomes a mental illness.

The type of symptoms of signs of mental illness you experience depends on the cause of the mental illness you’re experiencing.

Some examples of the symptoms and signs of mental illness to watch for include:

• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Changes to sleeping or eating habits
• Intense fears (can be irrational)
• Suicidal thoughts
• Strong, uncontrollable feelings of anger, violence, or hostility
• Extreme mood swings (highs and lows)
• Delusions, hallucinations, or paranoia
• Changes to sex drive
• Excessive alcohol or drug use
• Extreme feelings of guilt or worry
• Inability to concentrate
• Confusion or feeling lost
• Inability to cope with daily stresses
• Difficulty relating to other people
• Feeling sad, down, or lethargic
• Disinterest with activities that previously brought joy
• Frequent angry outbursts or tantrums
• Hyperactivity
• Changes in work or school performance
• Hypochondria
• Lack of energy or motivation

Because mental illnesses affect our state of consciousness, mental illnesses are often believed to be caused by your brain. More specifically, some scientists believe that when there are communication problems between neurons in your brain (neurotransmission), it causes mental illness.

However, these results aren’t conclusively replicable, as of yet. Some theories challenge the validity of neurotransmission changes, because it’s unclear whether these changes occurred before or after signs of mental illness appeared. This means that neurotransmission changes could potentially be a mental illness symptom, rather than a cause.

Before providing a diagnosis for mental illness, the doctor will want to have physical and psychological examinations performed. They’ll also discuss if you or any family members have a history of mental illness, and the signs of mental illness you’re experiencing.

In some cases, the doctor may suggest that you also have additional testing done. This is to check for any underlying conditions, such as testing hormone levels to see if they could be the cause of your mental illness symptoms.

Once the doctor is able to confirm a mental illness diagnosis, they’ll be able to make appropriate recommendations for your mental illness treatments.

The type of mental illness treatment recommended by the doctor will depend on the specific condition you’re experiencing.
Your doctor will be able to formulate a plan for you to manage your mental illness. If your symptoms are under control, the doctor may be able to help you by themselves. However, in many cases, a team approach is the best way to manage mental illness symptoms.

This mental illness treatment team will include your healthcare professional, friends and family members, and other people that could assist you, such as:

• Social workers
• Pharmacists
• Psychiatrists
• Psychotherapists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants

As well, depending on your class of mental illness, the doctor may suggest prescription mental illness medications, including:

• Anti-anxiety medications
• Antidepressants
• Antipsychotic medications
• Mood-stabilizing medications

If you’ve begun noticing signs of mental illness, you should talk to a doctor.

While most people experience mental health conditions at some point in their lives, their symptoms can sometimes be treated before they become mental illnesses.

A doctor on Maple will be able to help provide you with a clear mental illness diagnosis. They can also direct you towards resources for addressing your mental illness symptoms, such as psychotherapies.

When necessary, they can also provide prescription mental illness medications, which you may need to control your symptoms.