{"id":3556,"date":"2020-10-30T10:48:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T14:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/le0blog.wpengine.com\/?p=3556"},"modified":"2025-03-03T15:56:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T20:56:17","slug":"how-is-the-pandemic-impacting-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.legeropinion.com\/en\/news\/how-is-the-pandemic-impacting-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How is the Pandemic Impacting Mental Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Canada, the COVID-19 pandemic began in late January. In mid-June, the total number of reported cases surpassed 100,000, and as of mid-October, over 200,000 Canadian cases had been reported. In the face of the second wave, certain provinces and cities have tightened their restrictions even further to slow the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, the situation in the United States is much grimmer, with over 200,000 deaths to date, and experts predicting things will get worse.1<\/sup><\/p>\n

Given the widespread impact that the virus has had and continues to have on our lives, it is no surprise that our mental health has been negatively impacted.2<\/sup> Some experts worry that the anxiety Canadians have been experiencing will translate into depression as the hours of daylight dwindle, and temperatures drop, leaving them concerned that we may experience \u201ca long, dark winter.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n

HOW IS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACTING CANADIANS\u2019 AND AMERICANS\u2019 MENTAL HEALTH?<\/h3>\n

Every week, we run a weekly survey focused on the COVID-19 pandemic and current events and ask over 1,500 Canadians and 1,000 Americans to share their perspectives and experiences. In mid-October<\/a>, we asked them how their mental health and stress levels are now (compared to during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic) and what aspects of the pandemic they are finding most stressful.<\/p>\n

We learned that 24% of Canadians and 16% of Americans feel their mental health and stress levels are currently worse than during the first wave of the pandemic in March\/April. About half of Canadians (54%) and Americans (53%) say their mental health\/stress levels are about the same, and 19% of Canadians and 24% of Americans say their mental health\/stress levels are better.<\/p>\n

\"24%<\/p>\n

THE BIGGEST STRESSOR: WHEN WILL THE PANDEMIC END, AND HOW BAD WILL IT GET?<\/h3>\n

In the same survey<\/a>, we asked Canadians and Americans to share their biggest sources of COVID-19 related stress or anxiety that are currently affecting their mental health.<\/p>\n

\"Stressed<\/p>\n

The biggest stressors among Canadians are:<\/p>\n