Findings of Poll 20
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ABOUT THE STUDY
This study was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights with an online sample of 3,713 adult Canadians between April 30 and May 16, 2024. The results from this study provide insights into the mental health of Canadians and reveal concerning trends. Results from a probability sample of this size could be considered accurate to within ±1.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Results have been weighted based on age, gender and region to be representative of the Canadian population.
A series of research briefs that provide an in-depth, specific investigation of our polling results can be found here. Results of earlier polls are compared when applicable.
Findings from our polls are searchable on our free Data Portal.
Our latest data shows that negative daily impacts of mental health symptoms are at a near record high, and access to support is on the rise.
The findings reveal significant insights into mental health indicators and emerging trends:
Negative Impacts of Mental Health Symptoms at Near Record-High: More than one in four (28%) of Canadians report that their mental health symptoms affect their daily functioning, marking the highest percentage recorded since the middle of the pandemic. Over one-third of respondents indicate that mental health symptoms disrupt various aspects of their lives, including work/school (40%), social/leisure (33%), and family/home (36%).
High-Risk Problem Gambling in Canada: 7% of Canadians present high risk of problem gambling, with a higher rate of 15% among those aged 18-34. Those who present high-risk of problem gambling are more likely to face severe mental health issues, including 22% having planned a suicide attempt, and show higher rates of alcohol (38%) and cannabis (49%) dependency compared to non-gamblers.
Upward Trend in Accessing Mental Health Support: More Canadians have accessed mental health support in the past year (16%), indicating a 5% increase since the summer of 2022.
High Levels of Resilience: Almost seven-in-ten Canadians express confidence in their ability to bounce back from challenges (68%), marking the highest percentage recorded since the inception of this polling series. While younger Canadians are less optimistic, resilience levels have increased across all age groups.
Additional major findings from Poll 20 include:
Self-reported anxiety levels remain high, with 12% of Canadians experiencing high anxiety. However, there has been a slight decrease in self-reported depression, down to 9% since the last poll. Younger demographics continue to report higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to older cohorts.
A growing number of Canadians report missing days of work or school due to mental health concerns (11%). Productivity at work or school has declined for 27% of respondents, reflecting a 6% increase since the previous poll.
Nearly half of Canadians are aware of the 988 Crisis Suicide Helpline (45%), with 4% having utilized the service themselves and an additional 8% knowing someone who has.