New polling data shows some specific findings about how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting workplace and youth mental health.
Results from the first of three polls by Pollara Strategic Insights on behalf of Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division indicate the vast majority (90 per cent) of Ontarians are concerned about the impact the pandemic may have on the economy, while 65 per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the impact of the outbreak on students’ education.
CMHA Ontario’s polling is looking to evaluate how Ontarians’ perceptions of their mental health are changing as they come out from underneath the pandemic.
Other interesting findings in the Pollara research related to workplace mental health during the pandemic include:
- Sixty-nine per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the impact the outbreak has on their personal finances.
- Despite trying to make a daily routine, 59 per cent are finding it hard to be productive while in self-isolation. This is true of those who are currently employed and those not working.
- Those who are employed are more likely to say they have a routine and at least somewhat follow it (51 per cent).
- Forty per cent of Ontarians have themselves or have an immediate family member who has lost work hours or pay at work, while nearly a third (28 per cent) have been laid off.
Additional Pollara findings related to youth mental health during COVID-19 include:
- Seven-in-10 Ontarians (71 per cent) are worried about the impact the pandemic will have on the younger generation.
- Those dealing with a mental health condition tend to be younger. Thirty per cent of people aged 18-34 years of age say they have a mental health condition.
- Younger people (18-34) are more likely to say their mental health is poor (18 per cent) and see a decline in their mental health (45 per cent).
- Younger Ontarians (18-34) are much more likely to feel stress (45 per cent), anxiety (41 per cent) and feel depressed at least often (43 per cent) in the past week.
- More younger Ontarians aged 18-34 wish they had someone to talk to about the things that are worrying them (51 per cent), as compared to the general population (41 per cent).
To support workplaces during the pandemic, Mental Health Works has been providing free webinars to help employees and employers address the impact the outbreak has had on our work and well-being. A nationwide social enterprise of CMHA Ontario, Mental Health Works provides capacity-building workshops, presentations and webinars that are person-centred, evidence-based, and solutions-focused. For more information about how Mental Health Works can help your workplace manage the impact of the pandemic, visit www.mentalhealthworks.ca.
For the younger generation, the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) has created and collated resources that may be helpful for post-secondary students and college and university staff and administrators. Housed at CMHA Ontario, CICMH is a partnership project that also involves Colleges Ontario, the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, and the College Student Alliance. It helps Ontario’s colleges and universities enhance their capacity to support student mental health and well-being. Learn more at www.campusmentalhealth.ca.