The COVID viral pandemic has also created a mental health epidemic in Canada. With lockdown measures easing and hospitalization rates steadily improving, many observers expected the mental health outlook to brighten as well. But a new report suggests this is not the case, and that stress levels among the population may have been reset to a new normal of high anxiety.
The study by LifeWorks, a company focused on wellness solutions for businesses and individuals, indicated that 46 percent of Canadians report higher levels of stress than before the pandemic — and that 49 percent of workers have noticed high stress in colleagues. The figures are much worse for the under-40 category. LifeWorks’ “mental health index” (MHI) has been below 2019 levels since the start of the pandemic. “Stressors inside and outside of the workplace continue to make it challenging for individuals to manage their wellbeing in a healthy way,” said LifeWorks CEO Stephen Liptrap. “It is important for employers to recognize there is often more than meets the eye when it comes to how employees are feeling, and that providing ongoing communication and support is critical to ensure employee mental health remains a top priority.” The mental health metrics are worse for women. According to the report: “Since the launch of the MHI, women have had significantly lower mental health scores than men. In April 2022, the mental health score of women is -12.4 compared to -7.5 for men.” The nature of the family unit also affects stress levels: “Differences in mental health scores between those with and without children have been reported since the launch of the Index in April 2020. More than two years later, this pattern continues with a lower score for those with at least one child (-12.3) than those without children (-8.8).” Where Canadians work is also key: “Individuals who are self-employed have the highest mental health score (-4.5). Respondents working for companies with 51-100 employees have the lowest mental health score (-13.1). … From January to October 2021, the mental health scores of managers were lower than non-managers and lower than the Canadian average.” The differences are the starkest — and most troubling — in the age category. Since the start of the pandemic, age has been the best and most consistent predictor of overall stress. It’s an inverse relationship, with stress levels falling as age rises. Comparing the ends of the curve shows a wide generation gap: In April of this year, the 60- to 69-year-old group had a mental health score of -1.9. During the same month, the score was -21.2 for the 20-29 age category. “Canadians have been experiencing nonstop changes and uncertainties for over two years, and time has not made it any easier to navigate the ongoing turbulence,” said LifeWorks VP Paula Allen, reflecting on the findings. “Employers should be aware that a return to pre-pandemic routines does not mean a return to pre-pandemic mental health. Now is not the time to ease back on the focus on mental health supports and services, and in fact, the opposite is true.” Comments are closed.
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AuthorDr. Angela Carol MD,CCFP,FCFP is a family physician focused on treating chronic illnesses. Archives
May 2022
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