Image Description: A woman wearing a mask holding her head, struggling with mental health due to COVID-19 – Image: Engin Akyurt
The mental health consequences of COVID-19 receive less attention than the epidemiology, transmission patterns, and management of the virus. Policy makers have implemented several important measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus, but have provided less consideration to the mental health effects on individuals.
Do you find yourself stressed and anxious as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you are not alone:
Researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the research technology company Delvinia conducted a national survey with over 4000 respondents ages 18 and older, that revealed that 21.1% of Canadians experienced moderate to severe anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, 21.2% of respondents reported feeling depressed, and 27.2% reported that they engaged in binge-drinking. The results were fairly consistent between men and women.
Age & gender statistics of Canadians who reported feeling depressed – Taken from: COVID-19 National Survey Dashboard
Anxiety levels are shown to decrease with age as the majority of respondents experiencing moderate-severe anxiety were in the 18-39 age group. The percentage of respondents that reported feeling depressed and lonely follow the same trend, with individuals in the 18-39 age group having the highest percentage, followed by the 40-59, and 60+ age groups.
38.8% of individuals who felt depressed reported feeling very worried about finances and 34% lost their jobs or are no longer working due to the pandemic. The closing of businesses due to COVID-19 has led to financial stress for business owners and employees. This worry associated with having decreased or no income leads to and may aggravate symptoms of depression.
It is clear that COVID-19 affects not only physical health, but mental health as well. The rapid direct contact transmission of COVID-19 resulted in the enforcement of lockdowns to stop the spread of the disease. Social distancing, isolation, and the closure of educational institutes, workplaces, and entertainment venues urged people to stay in their homes to stop the transmission of the virus. These restrictive measures and financial stresses have undoubtedly affected the mental health of individuals in Canada.
Mental Health Tips:
- Self-care is very important. Reach out to your social supports, try to get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise, but be sure to use caution and follow health and safety guidelines.
- Seek information from reliable news sources only. Limit checking in on the latest news to short, defined periods.
- Take the recommended precautions as outlined by Health Canada and other credible health agencies such as continuing to wash your hands, covering your mouth during coughs & sneezes, etc.
- Consider reaching out to mental health resources.
The COVID‐19 pandemic has had and will continue to have an impact on society. It is important to understand that mitigation measures are necessary to combat the virus, all while recognizing the mental health effects. The long term mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unknown, and only time will tell how this will impact society.
-Sarah Ghoul
