Latest Mental Health Research Canada study (Wave 4) finds highest levels of anxiety and depression of the pandemic

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MHRC

Jan 14, 2021 – Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) today released the results of the fourth study in their ongoing series of surveys devoted to tracking and exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians’ mental health. MHRC’s previous studies were conducted in April, August, and October, 2020. 

The key findings of this study include: 

  • Canadians are reporting their highest levels of anxiety (23%) and depression (15%) of the pandemic to-date – above the levels at the peak of COVID’s first wave.
  • However, most Canadians are optimistic that they will recover once the pandemic is over, with 65% of Canadians indicating they remain highly resilient to challenges like COVID-19.
  • Frontline healthcare workers report high levels of anxiety, high levels of an anxiety diagnosis, as well as high levels of accessing treatment for anxiety and high levels of resiliency in overcoming these challenges.
  • 75% of Canadians indicate they will be getting a COVID-19 vaccination. 
  • Notably, those who are more concerned or who indicated they would not get the vaccine report a higher degree of anxiety and depression overall.
  • Social isolation and working from home are having more of a negative impact on mental health as the pandemic continues and as guidelines restricting movement are in place.

These are just some of the results from the latest MHRC pandemic study, based on an online survey conducted among a randomly-selected, reliable sample of N=2,761 adult Canadians from December 10-18, 2020. On behalf of MHRC, Pollara Strategic Insights designed, conducted, and analysed the results of this survey and the previous surveys in this ongoing series. The next survey installment will be field soon. Stay tuned for more results in the months ahead.

Please visit the MHRC survey data hub to download the full report of these survey findings as well as reports from the previous surveys in this series.

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