‘A tidal wave of affected people and families forming offshore right now’
Nearly half (48 per cent) of Canadians are very concerned about their mental health as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Renascent, a substance addiction treatment and concurrent mental health disorders provider.
Expressing the greatest concern are those living in Ontario (52 per cent) and Alberta (51 per cent), followed by those in Atlantic Canada (49 per cent) and British Columbia (48 per cent). More than four in 10 (41 per cent) also expressed the same concern in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Canadians aged 18 to 34 (60 per cent) are more concerned about their mental health compared with those aged 35 to 54 (52 per cent) and those who are 55 and older (35 per cent), found the survey of 3,045 Canadian adults conducted from June 6 to 9, 2020.
Residents with household incomes of less than $25,000 per annum (60 per cent) are also more concerned compared with those earning $50,000 –$100,000 per annum (46 per cent), those earning $25,000 –$50,000 yearly (45 per cent) and those earning more than $100,000 per year (41 per cent).
“The nature of the pandemic is creating enormous waves of anxiety and depression. We know this type of crisis event has a lagging effect, so the full societal mental health impact is a few months off,” said Laura Bhoi, Renascent CEO. “Make no mistake: there is a tidal wave of affected people and families forming offshore right now and when it arrives seeking help and treatment it will exacerbate an already existing crisis in the sector.”
Women (53 per cent) are more likely to be very concerned about their mental health than men (42 per cent), and those who are single or never married (58 per cent) were more concerned than those who are married/living with a significant other and those who are separated/divorced/widowed (both 43 per cent).
Earlier this month, a report from Morneau Shepell found that Canadians’ mental health and well-being remain down even though there has been a slowing of COVID-19 infections and many provinces are proceeding with a phased reopening of their economies.
