A third of younger Canadians have sought mental-health treatment during COVID-19: survey
A new poll has found that a third of young Canadians have sought treatment for mental health issues during the pandemic.
The latest poll from Nanos Research, commissioned by CTV News, found that 33.3 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 sought help for their mental health during the pandemic, through either counselling or treatment. This is compared to 19.5 per cent of respondents aged 35 to 54 and 5.9 per cent of respondents aged 55 and older.
In total, 18 per cent of Canadians sought professional help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The poll also showed that the mental-health conditions of Canadians have slowly weakened over the course of the pandemic, with 47 per cent of Canadians indicating that their mental health has worsened compared to before COVID-19, compared to 38 per cent in April 2020.
“The proportion of Canadians who report that their mental health has deteriorated compared to before the pandemic continues to increase with now almost one in two saying it is worse (18%) or somewhat worse (29%),” Nanos Research indicated in a news release. “Younger Canadians are significantly more likely to report that their mental health is worse or somewhat worse (64%) than older Canadians (31%).”
The hardest-hit region of the country appears to be Atlantic Canada, where 58.7 per cent of respondents indicated worsening mental health.
As far as what drives the negative impacts on Canadians’ mental well-being, 63 per cent of respondents cited a loss of social contacts, while 59 per cent referenced the impact of lockdowns and public health restrictions, while 50 per cent said the uncertainty about the virus is hurting their mental health.
Canadians were also asked when they thought the pandemic might end and 22.2 per cent responded 12 months, while 16.4 per cent don’t think it will end for another two years.
'CONSTANT ANXIETY'
Laura Kirby-McIntosh, a teacher and mother from Mississauga, Ont., said stressors brought on by the pandemic wore down her mental health.
"It's added this layer of constant anxiety," she said. "I now have something that I can worry about 24-7, and I can't get away from it."
Kirby-McIntosh said during the pandemic, she has been worried for the health and well-being of her husband Bruce, a dialysis patient, and for her two children, one of whom has autism.
As a teacher, she has also found it hard to connect with her students online as schools in Ontario have bounced between classrooms and virtual learning.
Social isolation has made them seem more withdrawn, and she worries that not all of them will have equal access to treatment.
"We need to make sure support is available in every community for everybody who needs it," she said.
Kirby-McIntosh said all of these anxieties about her family and students have brought on panic attacks.
"I think it's depressed all of us," she said. "It's made me live inside my head a lot more than I used to."
UNDERSTANDING SCOPE
The impact the pandemic has had on people's mental health is the subject of a massive global study endorsed by the World Psychiatric Association.
More than 200 scientists around the world are involved in an online survey project that initially aimed to collect information from 100,000 participants worldwide. The survey, called Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times (COH-FIT), asks questions about participants' physical and mental well-being during the pandemic. It will be followed by further surveys at six and 12 months after the end of the pandemic, as determined by the World Health Organization.
The study has since surpassed its goal, collecting more than 167,000 surveys from participants ages six and older from 155 countries.
Dr. Marco Solmi, a psychiatrist based at the University of Ottawa and one of the clinicians leading the study, told CTV News that early findings of the study show that when it comes to mental health, teens have so far been the age group most severely affected by the pandemic.
"We need to know what is happening," Solmi said. "And we need to know how to deal with this in the future if it should ever happen again."
COPING STRATEGIES
Vancouver-based psychiatrist Dr. Shimi Kang told CTV's Your Morning on Tuesday feelings of stress and loneliness are on the rise in Canadians as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Kang said many people are grieving and recovering from trauma caused by the pandemic; health-care workers, teachers and parents are feeling burnt out; seniors are experiencing increased loneliness; and students are worried about their future amid the uncertainty.
To help manage these feelings, Kang suggests Canadians focus on what they can control, such as the different aspects of their daily routine.
Kang says experiencing some sunlight each day, whether outside or via a sun lamp, as well as getting a restful sleep, can help change a person's mood. She added that getting 20 minutes of daily exercise can also have a positive impact.
"We know that 20 minutes of getting your heart rate up... is as effective as medication for mild symptoms of anxiety and depression. So that's a target if you're feeling sad or down," she said.
Kang said it is also important to engage in "social bonding" with peers. Kang noted that social bonding is different from simply socializing in that it involves genuine, meaningful connections that require people to be vulnerable with one another.
Kang said having healthy tech habits can also be "mood enhancing." She explained that "junk tech" should be monitored and limited to protect one's mental well-being.
"We have to go beyond screen time and really look at the quality of what we are consuming. So we want to avoid toxic tech that's any tech related to stress, cortisol, sleep deprivation, bullying, hate all kinds of negativity online," Kang said.
While Kang says a little video gaming and mindless social media scrolling "won't kill you," she noted that too much can be harmful.
"We want tech that leads to meaningful connection, creativity and learning, so when we use tech that way, now we're using it for our health, happiness and connection -- not the other way around," she explained.
METHODOLOGY
Nanos conducted an RDD dual frame (land- and cell-lines) hybrid telephone and online random survey of 1,049 Canadians, 18 years of age or older, between Jan. 21 to 23, 2022 as part of an omnibus survey. Participants were randomly recruited by telephone using live agents and administered a survey online. The sample included both land- and cell-lines across Canada. The results were statistically checked and weighted by age and gender using the latest Census information and the sample is geographically stratified to be representative of Canada.
Individuals randomly called using random digit dialling with a maximum of five call backs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

'No concessions' St-Onge says in $100M a year news deal with Google
The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act that will see the tech giant pay $100 million annually to publishers, and continue to allow access to Canadian news content on its platform. This comes after Google had threatened to block news on its platform when the contentious new rules come into effect next month.
Here is what Canada's drug shortage situation looks like right now
Compared to the peak pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, Canada experienced an uptick in prescription drug shortages in 2022 that Health Canada says has continued throughout 2023.
opinion Don Martin: With Trudeau resignation fever rising, a Conservative nightmare appears
With speculation rising that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will follow his father's footsteps in the snow to a pre-election resignation, political columnist Don Martin focuses on one Liberal cabinet minister who's emerging as leadership material -- and who stands out as a fresh-faced contrast to the often 'angry and abrasive' leader of the Conservatives.
U.S. says alleged murder plotter was directed by India and mentioned B.C. killing
U.S. officials have charged an Indian national in a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil – in a case they say is connected to the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
Manslaughter charges laid against man accused of trafficking gun to teen who killed Edmonton police officers
A 19-year-old man accused of trafficking a firearm to the 16-year-old boy who killed two Edmonton police officers has been charged with manslaughter.
'We wish we could've reached that kid earlier,' says online educator about boy's suicide after apparent sextortion
The chat may seem innocuous at first. The victims, often young men or boys, start communicating with someone posing as a young girl, typically on the popular social media platforms Instagram and Snapchat. But with sextortion, which occurs when people are blackmailed for money or sexual favours, 'sextorters' convince them to share a sexual photo or video.
opinion Five revelations from best-seller 'Endgame' that are sure to upset the Royal Family
Royal commentator Afua Hagan on five revelations in a new book that's sure to send shockwaves through the Royal Family's ranks.
Provinces are moving away from pap smears, but more infrastructure is needed
Some provinces are moving to HPV tests as the primary mode of cervical cancer screening, and others are close behind, an expert says.
Sask. man accused of sexually assaulting 3 boys arrested at daycare
An Assiniboia, Sask. man stands accused of sexually assaulting three boys under the age of 12 was arrested at a home-based daycare.
W5 HIGHLIGHTS

W5 George Chuvalo: the boxer nobody could knock down
Canadian boxing great George Chuvalo went blow-for-blow with legends, but it came at a cost. W5's Sandie Rinaldo speaks with Chuvalo's children about the damage that 93 fights did to their father's cognitive health. 'Boom Boom Chuvalo' airs Friday at 10/9 on CTV.

W5 Owners of prized historic N.S. home in legal nightmare, thanks to local government
W5 investigates: A couple buys a historic house in Nova Scotia at auction and puts hundreds of thousands of dollars into renovations, but the local government says they don't own the property.

W5 Who was the Kenora bomber?: W5 digs up clues that could reveal his identity
CTV W5 investigates the dramatic explosion that occurred in a small Canadian city after an armed bandit attempted a bank heist. W5 digs up clues that could reveal his identity.
'Understudied and unregulated': Green Party pushes to investigate asbestos in tap water
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May has tabled a petition calling on the federal government to take urgent action on Canada’s aging asbestos-cement pipes due to the potential dangers of drinking tap water containing the deadly fibre.
A young race car driver from Canada is inspiring people all around the world
Austin Riley has been drawing crowds to the race track for years. But his claim to fame isn’t just being fast on the speedway, he is breaking barriers on the track for those with disabilities.
Court battle over Ontario's agriculture 'gag' laws kicks off in Toronto
A constitutional challenge of recent Ontario legislation that prevents the undercover filming of factory farms and the animals kept on them kicked off in a Toronto courthouse on Monday morning.
Despite perilous circumstances, incredible acts of humanity taking place amid Israel-Hamas war
The images and stories coming out of the war between Israel and Hamas are horrifying. Millions around the world have scrolled through the tragic scenes posted on social media with a growing sense of despair. It’s easy to forget that amongst so much inhumanity, incredible acts of humanity are taking place
'We can't speak': Barenaked Ladies band member on connecting to daughter through music
As a long-time member of the iconic Canadian band, The Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn has played before large audiences all around the world, but his most cherished performances are before an audience of one in a Toronto area group home. That's where his daughter Havana lives.