How has COVID-19 impacted Canadians mental health?

The Conference Board of Canada and the Mental Health Commission of Canada have partnered to explore the impact of COVID-19 on mental health.

Between April 27 and May 15, 2020, we conducted a mental health pulse-check and received responses from 1,804 Canadians. We looked at the pro-social, at-risk, and help-seeking coping strategies they used.

person staring out across a grey water

What we measured

We surveyed 15 mental health concerns:

  • Financial health
  • Employment situation
  • Physical health
  • Domestic violence
  • Alcohol/drug use
  • Anxiousness/fear
  • Anger management
  • Isolation/loneliness
  • Low moods/depression
  • Finding a spouse
  • Maintaining a relationship
  • Fulfilling parenting roles
  • Wellness of family
  • My future
  • Overall mental well-being

Mindfulness was the only coping strategy to have a positive impact across all
15 concern areas.

What we found

84% of the respondents reported that since the onset of COVID-19, their mental health concerns worsened.

The biggest mental health concerns were:

  • family well-being
  • one’s future
  • isolation/loneliness
  • anxiousness/fear

Concerns for family—then and now

Q: How concerned were you for the well-being and wellness of your family before the pandemic?

(percentage of respondents; n = 1,804)

Note: Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada

Q: How concerned were you for the well-being and wellness of your family before the pandemic?

(percentage of respondents; n = 1,804)

Note: Totals may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The Conference Board of Canada

More findings

person facing away from camera while on a cell phone

Financial health

Financial health influences overall health. Respondents who had secure employment and higher income reported lower levels of mental health concerns than their unemployed and lower-income counterparts.

low shot of a son standing in between a father's feet

Get Moving

Connecting with family and friends through technology, walking/jogging, and exercise were the top pro-social coping strategies used.

person holding a cat

The pet advantage

Time with a pet was the strategy that produced the greatest perceived benefit.

person covering face with hand looking disappointed

Bad strategies

Unfortunately, those with the highest levels of mental health concerns reported using coping strategies that they perceived to be the least effective—such as alcohol, food, and drugs.

hands holding a cellphone

Reaching out

When respondents sought help, the top three strategies were:

  1. talking to a therapist/counsellor/
    psychologist,
  2. telemedicine, and
  3. online physical health trainers.

Risky behaviours

Those with higher mental health concerns were more likely to reach for at-risk strategies

(average mental health concern score on a scale of 15–150, by number of at-risk strategies used)

Source: The Conference Board of Canada.

Your mental health experience matters

Those with the lowest levels of mental health concerns reported using coping strategies that they perceived to be highly beneficial.

What can employers do?

Employers will need concrete plans to help their employees with rising mental health concerns, including:

silhouette of a person with a long haired person with a pink coloured sky

Focusing on providing meaningful work, supporting the whole employee (family, work, and social lives), and adopting proven mental health assessment tools.

person sitting with hand on face looking very defeated

Understanding the role of the workplace in building overall mental health.

Person wearing mask for covid-19 protection while talking on a cell phone

Exploring the strategies employees are using to cope and knowing the pros and cons of these strategies to encourage healthier choices.

hands over a desk looking like they are engaged in conversation

Promoting the use of psychological services and employee assistance programs—and defining success criteria and metrics.

happy person eyes closed in bliss

Social connections matter. Employers need to help reduce stigma, isolation, and loneliness—especially with more people working remotely than ever.

For a closer look at our survey results, including more rankings and response breakdowns, download our presentation here:

Note: This file is for reference purpose only.