No reduction in number of Canadians reporting high levels of anxiety and depression at end of first wave of pandemic

The number of Canadians expressing high levels of anxiety and depression remained steady despite the reduction in restrictions in the summer. This is among the key findings of our second study, which is part of an ongoing series of national polls on “Mental Health in Crisis: How COVID-19 Is Impacting Canadians.”

MHRC launched the study to capture Canadians’ perceptions of their levels of anxiety and depression, and to identify and evaluate the factors that influence mental health. MHRC will also be doing follow-up polls to track the evolution of mental health issues during the pandemic. We will be collecting data again in mid-October to track the effects of the second wave of the pandemic.

“MHRC is collaborating extensively with stakeholders federally and provincially as we develop this important work. We are pleased to play a role in providing information to Canadians during the pandemic. This information will be key to helping us all get through the coming months,” says Akela Peoples, CEO of MHRC.

The study’s major findings include:

• Teachers (K-12) are experiencing high levels of anxiety: The number of teachers with high levels of anxiety has increased by 500% as compared to pre-COVID levels (5% vs 25%). They are also pessimistic about their levels of anxiety for the next two months. The fear of contracting the virus (44%) and social isolation (50%) is having an outsized negative effect on their mental health.

• Despite the reduction in lockdown restrictions and in new COVID cases between April and August, high levels of anxiety and depression remained steady across Canada (anxiety: 20% of the population in April and 22% in August; depression: 10% of the population in April and 13% in August).

• Nearly two-thirds of Canadians who indicated a high level of anxiety or depression would be classified as having a moderate to severe level of psychological distress as indicated by Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). From among those in the severe category, the highest were men and people living alone.

• The activities cited by Canadians as having the most positive impact on mental health previously are no longer effective. Interaction with family members and entertainment are now having either a neutral or a negative effect on mental health. This may indicate that the effect of positive activities is not long-lasting if the underlying cause of stress is not dealt with.

• Prescription medication is reported by Canadians to be the most common treatment for mental health: 60% of people who indicate a mood or mental disorder diagnosis use prescription medication, with only one-fifth of this group receiving counselling or psychotherapy from a professional.

• Nearly one-half of all people who accessed mental health services before COVID are no longer doing so (32% before, 17% after) due to a significant reduction in access to family doctors and in-person, one-to-one mental health services.

“We have deep concerns about the trends we are seeing. But we also believe that Canadians are showing strength and common purpose in meeting the COVID-19 challenge. Resources are available, such as Wellness Together Canada which is supported by the federal government and many other partners, and we encourage people to use them.

“We believe strongly data from this poll, and future polls, will inform stakeholders across Canada in addressing this growing challenge,” says John Trainor, Chair of MHRC’s Board of Directors and Adjunct faculty member, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.