Amy Ecclestone
Monitoring the mental health impact of COVID-19 on Canadians: a longitudinal study
Amy Ecclestone’s completed project explored how people across Canada experience mental health and substance use services, and why satisfaction differs between groups. Using national survey data from the ten provinces, the research examined how age, income, symptom severity and other circumstances relate to access to care, the services people use and whether they receive the support they need.
The analysis paid particular attention to disparities associated with severe mental health conditions and social or economic challenges, including food insecurity, housing instability and substance use. It also examined variation in satisfaction across private, public and no-cost services.
Approach and methodology
The study drew on MHRC’s national online polling, with responses collected approximately every three months from July 2022 to July 2024. It used repeated cross-sectional survey samples to compare population groups and reporting periods, rather than tracking the same individuals as a fixed longitudinal cohort.
Using SAS, the analysis summarized responses through frequencies and percentages, examining patterns in service use, unmet need and satisfaction by service type, symptom severity, income and self-reported ethnic origin. MHRC’s national polling continues beyond the period analyzed in this completed project.
Findings
Among survey respondents reporting on services they had used, the project identified clear differences in satisfaction:
Service type: 77% of private-service users reported satisfaction, compared with 69% for public services and 66% for free services.
Symptom severity: 56% of respondents with severe anxiety and 54% with severe depression reported satisfaction, compared with 82% among those with minimal symptoms.
Income: satisfaction was 77% in the higher-income group, versus 61% in the lower-income group.
Self-reported origin: satisfaction was 74% among respondents of North American origin and 64% among those of Asian origin.
Impact
The findings reveal disparities that may be obscured by national satisfaction averages, particularly for people with more severe symptoms and those with lower incomes. They underscore the importance of accessible, appropriately tailored mental health services, including publicly funded and no-cost options.
By identifying where service experiences differ, the research provides evidence that can inform service planning, resource allocation and equity-focused policy discussions aimed at improving access and responsiveness.
Project outreach
The project was not expanded beyond its initial research scope. The dataset offers opportunities for subsequent work on the duration and frequency of care and other emerging issues, including gambling; these were identified as directions for further research, not as additional completed findings from this studentship.
Resources created
MHRC published Is it Helping? Satisfaction with Mental Health and Substance Use Services in March 2025. It examines satisfaction with mental health and substance use support using polling data collected from July 2022 to July 2024.
MHRC national polling: https://www.mhrc.ca/national-polling
About the researcher
Amy Ecclestone studied Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. At the time of the original studentship profile, she was a doctoral student who had transferred from the university’s master’s program. She previously completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at Queen’s University.
Her experience spans mental health research and the analysis of behavioural risks, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Her research interests include mental health, substance use and changes in cannabis use in relation to public policy.
