Abstract

Background

While the physical health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are regularly publicly available, the mental health toll on Canadians is unknown. This article examines the self-perceived mental health of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores associations with various concerns after accounting for socioeconomic and health factors.

Data

The cross-sectional Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 1 collected information related to COVID-19 in late March and early April 2020 concerning labour market participation, behaviours, and health for the Canadian population 15 years and older living in the 10 provinces.

Methods

Socioeconomic and health characteristics of respondents as well as concerns about the impact of COVID-19 were examined to determine differences in experiencing excellent or very good compared to good, fair or poor perceived mental health.

Results

Just over half of Canadians aged 15 and older (54%) reported excellent or very good mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several concerns were also associated with mental health. Notably, after considering the effects of socioeconomic and health characteristics, women, youth, individuals with a physical health condition and those who were very or extremely concerned with family stress from confinement were less likely to report excellent or very good mental health.

Interpretation

These findings point to particular risks for lower perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results highlight various concerns of Canadians which may be associated with mental health, in particular, family stress in the home.

Keywords

perceived mental health, COVID-19, social determinants of mental health, concerns, family stress

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202000400003-eng

Findings

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) an international public health emergency on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11. Governments and public health authorities worldwide have initiated public health plans to mitigate risks created by the virus, including strict physical distancing, extreme reductions in travel and closures of many businesses and schools. Although the impact on physical health is substantial (including hospitalizations and deaths), the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Canadians is less clear. [Full article]

Authors

Leanne C. Findlay (leanne.findlay@canada.ca) and Dafna Kohen are with the Health Analysis Division, and Rubab Arim is with the Social Analysis and Modelling Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.