A new online poll by INNOVATIVE of 3,763 Canadians shows that while Canadians mental wellbeing has declined from the summer, financial wellbeing has continued to improve.
Canadians’ assessments of their own mental health have dropped significantly for the first time in the pandemic. The share of Canadians who say their mental health is at least good is down to 71% from a high in June of 79% and 76% in December. Stress has been more variable starting with those feeling quite stressed or worse at 30% last March, dropping to 24% last summer and increasing back to 29% now.
While those over 55 are the most likely to report ‘a lot less contact’ with family and friends compared to before COVID-19, younger respondents report being more impacted when it comes to loneliness and feelings of isolation. More than a third of those under 35 say they either often or always feel lonely and nearly half of women under 35 say they either often or always feel isolated.
Canadians’ assessment of their own physical health has been stable for most of the pandemic moving between 78% and 82%. However, at 76%, this month’s assessments of overall health is a new low.
While mental and physical health are down from where they were over the summer, the financial impacts of the pandemic has continued to improve. Only 24% of Canadians say the pandemic has had a significant negative impact on their household finances, down from a high of 35% in March 2020. Now, only 22% believe Canada is moving into a period of sever recession, down significantly from a high of 53% in Q2 of 2020. The share of Canadians who are confident in their household finances remains steady from November at 68%, up more than 10-points from a low of 57% in 2020.
Finally, when asked about their live as a whole, 58% of Canadians report being satisfied. While that is down from 63% in June, it is up from 56% last March and April.
For more information and to read INNOVATIVE’s full report and analysis, click here.
