2-hour wildfire evacuation notice issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods
A wildfire evacuation alert for some Fort McMurray residents has been updated to a two-hour evacuation notice.
A new study suggests that around one in eight older Canadian adults experienced depression for the first time during the pandemic.
The results of a survey of more than 20,000 Canadian adults aged 50 and up, were published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, and identified quantitative data that shows prevalent surges in depression for older adults with no previous mental health issues.
Andie MacNeil, a researcher with University of Toronto and author of the study, said in a press release Thursday that this high rate of first-onset depression “highlights the substantial mental health toll that the pandemic caused in a formerly mentally healthy group of older adults.”
The study determined numerous factors that were correlated with mental health decline among older adults during the pandemic -- including financial struggles, a sense of loneliness and isolation, and family conflict.
Researchers also evaluated survey participants with a track record of mental health decline, finding almost half (45 per cent) of the group reporting a state of depression by autumn of 2020.
Sapirya Birk, another co-author of the study and a researcher with Carleton University, sees how the pandemic particularly impacted people who had a history of depression – and what this data should mean for health-care screening and mental health resources.
“Health professionals need to be vigilant in screening their patients who had mental health problems at an earlier time in their life,” she said in the release.
On top of identifying a rampant uptick in depression cases throughout the country, the data also determined demographic susceptibilities for mental health decline amidst individuals with low socioeconomic status.
Canadian seniors with chronic pain who faced difficulties accessing usual treatments, medication or health-care services were more likely to face depression in autumn of 2020.
The research also indicated that adults who endured family conflict during the COVID-19 outbreak were three times more likely of developing depression compared to those who did not.
“We hope our findings can help health and social work professionals improve targeted screening and outreach to identify and serve older adults most at risk for depression,” MacNeil said.
A wildfire evacuation alert for some Fort McMurray residents has been updated to a two-hour evacuation notice.
Saskatchewan RCMP are set to provide an update on what the service calls a 'significant' sexual assault and internet child exploitation investigation.
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.