Feature Article
FEATURE
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Chloe Sincerbox
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Should We Be Concerned About Canadian’s Mental Health? Latest Poll From Mental Health Research Canada’s Latest Poll Says Yes
TORONTO –March 24, 2025— Whether it is the on-going trade war, access to mental health support, or exposure to harmful content on social media, Mental Health Research Canada’s latest polling initiative reveals the concerning state of Canadian’s mental health. Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) began its polling initiative in 2020 by collecting data that analyzed the impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian’s mental health. Since then, MHRC has conducted quarterly polls that focus on key factors that affect mental health. The release of Poll 23 focuses on key findings that are currently adversely affecting Canadian’s mental health, and they give cause for concern.
The rising cost of living in Canada is taking its toll on mental health. According to Poll 23, the number of Canadians who have anxiety about paying their bills, is the highest since the polling initiative began in 2020. Almost 40 per cent of Canadians are currently experiencing stress regarding their financial instability, and over 40 per cent have anxiety about the current state of the economy after the recent downturn. These numbers paint a stark picture of
the current financial landscape in Canada as well as inextricable link between poor mental health and increasing financial strain. In addition to this, current relationships with the US and the ensuing trade war have been a source of anxiety for many, most likely exacerbating existing mental health challenges and anxieties.
Considering recent current events and their predominance in the media, Poll 23 also demonstrates that the relationship between social media and negative mental health has drastically increased this quarter. Approximately two out of every five Canadians (43 per cent) say that watching the news is negatively impacting their mental health; this number has increased since the last poll. While it is important now more than ever to stay informed, it appears to be coming at a high cost to Canadian’s well-being. Social media and its prominence in the lives of Canadians has also been linked to poor mental health indicators. Canadians between the ages of 16-34 are spending, on average, six hours of personal screen time every day. Those individuals are also more likely to report indicators of anxiety and depression than individuals who have less personal screen time. This is especially prevalent among the more tech-savvy Canadian youth who are, according to reports, at the highest risk of developing anxiety and depression in comparison to other age groups.
“Financial pressures, social media exposure, and barriers to care continue to impact mental health, and it is crucial that we respond with evidence-based policies and support systems that meet the needs of our communities.”
– Akela Peoples, CEO, Mental Health Research Canada.
Access to health care in Canada continues to be an on-going discussion. People in Canada with mental health or substance use issues are less likely to have a family doctor than those who do not face those challenges. This can allow issues with mental health to persist, as almost one third of Canadians claim that they would seek help from a general practitioner for support. According to the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), it is estimated that the federal government can expect approximately 20,000 deficits in family doctors until 2031. [1] President of CMA, Dr. Joss Reimer, states that “We need to do everything we can to increase those numbers of family physicians, while also trying to find other solutions.” This suggests that there is a link between Canadian’s access to care and mental health, while additionally underscoring the need for more mental health resources.
While challenges surrounding mental health remain, there is still some hope. Despite rising financial pressures, exposure to harmful social media content, and access to care, many Canadians are aware of their mental health state. According to Poll 23, 78 per cent of Canadians feel somewhat to very confident in recognizing signs and symptoms of poor mental health. Growing self-awareness is one of the first steps in fostering more open conversations about mental health. Improving the mental health landscape in Canada starts with paving pathways for support and ensuring it is available to those who need it. Poll 23, and its findings, demonstrate that the mental health and well-being of Canadians is not just ‘important’—it is essential for building a more resilient and open society.
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ABOUT THE POLL
MHRC’s national polling initiative is part of a multi-year effort to track the mental health challenges of COVID-19 and beyond. The goal of MHRC’s polls is to capture Canadians’ reported perception of their level of anxiety and depression, and to identify and evaluate the factors that influence mental health. Since this work began in early 2020, MHRC now has the largest, most comprehensive database on COVID-19 and the mental health of Canadians, with more than 80,000 responses to our polls to date.
This study was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights with an online sample of 4,050 adult Canadians and was conducted from February 4 to 19. Results from a probability sample of this size could be considered accurate to within ±1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Results have been weighted based on age, gender and region to be representative of the Canadian population.
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH CANADA
Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) is a national charity that serves to advance mental health through studentships, granting, data collection/analysis and strategic initiatives. As a leading mental health organization in Canada, we are dedicated to improving the lives of all Canadians by advancing mental health knowledge in unique
ways—notably by leading, seeding and influencing to create better mental health systems. One example of our work is funded by Health Canada to monitor and report on the mental health of Canadians. We collect population data, analyze and report on it to governments and stakeholders nationally to support data informed decision-making on what people need and how our services are performing. Mental health systems and services cannot improve without research – research is an investment in the future.