New Information on Declining Support, Increasing Anxiety, and Youth Mental Health in Canada
December 12, 2024, Toronto, Ontario —As the holidays approach, it is more important than ever to recognize the mental health struggles many Canadians are facing. Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) today announced the findings from its twenty-second poll, conducted between October 24 and November 12, which surveyed 8,211 participants across the country and offers critical insights into the mental health of Canadians aged 16 and older. The results highlight mental health challenges and barriers, including one in three Canadians concerned about affording healthy food for their families, and one in four lacking a consistent support network. With the holidays fast approaching, these findings underscore the urgent need for increased mental health support and resources. The report also explores areas such as an increase in self-rated anxiety, declining access to care and increasing struggles among younger Canadians
Key Findings:
Anxiety is on the rise, yet fewer are seeking help: Self-rated anxiety has risen to 13%, yet those accessing mental health support has dropped from 17% to 13% since our last poll in September 2024. Among those seeking help, fewer respondents felt that their needs were fully met (30% down from 36%).
Youth at Greater Risk: Young Canadians (aged 18-34) are disproportionately struggling. Almost one in four (24%) young Canadians have considered suicide in the past year, a stark comparison to the national average of 14%. We noted that this group is also at a higher risk of problem gambling (22% compared to 10%).
Low Mental Health Literacy: 37% of Canadians reported that they feel confident in recognizing signs of poor mental health in themselves. This further emphasizes a significant need for continued education on mental health, reducing stigma, and accessible support.
Additional Findings from Poll 22:
High-risk Gambling Behaviours: 1 in 10 Canadians (10%) report engaging gambling behaviours that put them at a higher risk of developing a gambling problem. Men (22%) and younger Canadians aged 18-24 (22%) are the most likely to report these risky behaviours. Additionally, 54% of high-risk gamblers report engaging in online gambling.
Financial Strain and Barriers to Care: Financial challenges are significantly exacerbating mental health struggles. 44% of Canadians identify that the cost of care is a major barrier to seeking care, while 36% point to long wait lists as an obstacle in accessing timely support.
"These findings paint a troubling picture of the challenges many Canadians are facing," says Akela Peoples, CEO of MHRC. "With the holidays approaching, it’s more important than ever to ensure everyone feels supported, cared for, and has access to the resources they need to navigate difficult times. Our data reveals a rise in anxiety, which could be further impacted by additional financial and social pressures at this time of year."
MHRC is committed to providing current data in a timely fashion to support data-informed decision making in mental health to improve the lives of Canadians.
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 75,000 responses to our polls to date.
This study was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights with an online sample of 8,122 adult Canadians and was conducted from October 24 to November 12. Results from a probability sample of this size could be considered accurate to within ±1.1 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
As an independent national charity, Mental Health Research Canada works to enable a future where mental health in Canada is transformed using evidence, data and stakeholder engagement. We turn mental health research into real-world solutions by bringing together researchers, communities and people with lived experience, producing national population polling and rapid data reporting, and building partnerships that inform policy and improve outcomes. We also invest in the next generation of researchers through fellowships and studentships and foster collaboration between academia and communities. Upstream investments drive downstream solutions, because without research, it’s just guesswork.
