Understanding the mental health of Canadians through COVID-19 and beyond: Poll #17

Poll 17 indicates that financial stressors are having an alarming impact on the mental health of struggling Canadians. The data demonstrates that financial concerns remain a major factor in negative mental health among Canadians, as well as the following major findings: 39% of respondents feel economic issues are impacting their mental health. Suicide ideation among Canadians experiencing financial challenges is alarmingly high with 41% reporting having thought about suicide in the last year. The impacts of inflation are affecting Canadians with 24%  reporting having gone into debt as a result. Housing and food insecurity remains high with 23% of Canadians concerned about their ability to make rent or mortgage payments, and 37% struggling to feed themselves or their families. 29% of Canadians cite an inability to pay as the reason for not accessing mental health care despite needing it (an increase of 11% from our previous polls).