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Feel like you’re running on empty these days? You’re not alone.
Apr 21, 2022
Far from feeling the pandemic is over, most people in Ontario are stressed about what’s next, with 64% worried about new variants and 56% worried about COVID-19 circulating in the population for years to come. Two years of pandemic induced stressors, including grief and trauma, are likely to lead to significant long-term mental health effects in the general population, and specifically on frontline mental health care providers caring for them. This according to Round 4 of the Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health national monitoring survey by the Canadian Mental Health Association National (CMHA) in partnership with UBC researchers, and CMHA’s Running on empty: how community mental health organizations have fared on the frontlines of COVID-19, both released today.
“We’re seeing the signs of chronic stress on the population,” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO of CMHA. “Unfortunately, community mental health organizations have drawn on shallow reserves to meet people’s mental health needs during COVID, and now they’re running on empty. It’s time to check the engine light on our mental health system.”
The chronic stress of dealing with the pandemic is taking its toll, making basic decisions harder, sapping our energy and leaving people plain tired or burnt out. Nearly half (41%) of Ontarians are stressed or worried about coping with uncertainty.
“We’re seeing big differences—or inequities—in how different groups of people are affected by the pandemic. This is dividing our society into haves and have-nots when it comes to mental health and illness,” says lead researcher Emily Jenkins, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies mental health and substance use. “The pandemic has made it impossible to ignore the longstanding service gaps and systemic barriers in our systems.”
Over a third (39%) say their mental health has declined since the onset of the pandemic and this spikes in vulnerable groups such as those who are unemployed due to COVID-19 (57%), had a pre-existing mental health condition (54%), identify as LGBTQ2+ (49%), are students (47%), have a disability (44%) or are Indigenous (42%). Over a third (36%) of Canadians are worried about the compounding effects of climate change on top of COVID-19 and eight per cent have had recent thoughts or feelings of suicide.
Millions of Canadians who cannot get the mental health help they need due to long wait lists or high costs, rely on free mental health and addictions services and supports provided by the not-for-profit sector, but these organizations are strained to breaking.
“We are certainly seeing these trends and themes across Waterloo and Wellington communities with approximately, 3,679 people currently waiting for ongoing mental health and addictions care. Within our CMHA WW services, we are seeing significant spikes in our referrals in our children’s mental health services, eating disorders program, early psychosis program, as well as crisis referrals,” says CEO Helen Fishburn. “With this change of baseline of mental health need, we are responding to people in crisis, and doing our very best to connect people to available care across our community.”
Almost one in five (19%) Ontarians felt they needed help with their mental health during the pandemic but didn’t receive it because: they didn’t know how or where to get it (36%), couldn’t afford to pay (32%), couldn’t get access (23%) or because insurance didn’t cover it (17%).
“Improving Canadians’ mental health is about more than just increasing access to care,” says Anne Gadermann, co-lead researcher and professor at the School of Population and Public Health, UBC. “We need to address the root causes of mental health inequities through promotion and prevention, in addition to treatment.”
In Running on Empty, CMHA calls on the federal government to better fund, support and integrate community mental health services within the healthcare system and: establish long-term and stable federal funding for key programs, services and supports in the community mental health sector; invest in mental health promotion and mental illness prevention programs and strategies; publicly fund community-based counseling and psychotherapy; and invest in housing, income supports and food security.
“This survey is highlighting the need for our collective mental health recovery. Direct government investment to sustain and improve access to programs and services to ensure every Canadian who needs mental health supports can get them is important. However, we must also look to the community to not only financially support mental health programs and services, but also learn what to look for and the skills to check in on their family, friends, neighbours, athletes, students, coworkers, children’s mental health. The comfort to open up the conversation about mental health struggles and then the ability to gain support both formally and informally is paramount and the time is now.” Says Helen Fishburn, CEO CMHA WW.
Getting help
CMHA Waterloo Wellington is here to help. CMHA WW offers a number of programs and services as well as crisis support through Here 24/7, 1-844-437-3247. Visit our website to www.cmhaww.ca/events to access free webinars to increase your mental wellness or visit the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal. If you are in crisis, please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free in Canada or dial 911.
About the survey
The survey was dispatched by Maru/Matchbox from Nov. 29 – Dec. 7, 2021, to a representative sample of 3,030 people ages 18 and up living in Canada. The fourth round of this national monitoring survey was made possible by generous support from Co-operators. To access a complete summary of the findings, please click here.
About the report
The report uses in-depth interviews across all provinces and the Yukon territory to outline how community mental health organizations have been impacted by and responded to the pandemic. The research was made possible by generous support from Co-operators. To access the complete report, please click here.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW) is a non-profit organization that provides a full care system for those with addictions, mental health or developmental needs. CMHA WW serves everyone from children to adults to seniors and helps individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise.
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For further information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Megan Brady, Communications Specialist
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington
1-844-264-2993 Ext. 2106