Alberta's mental health lowest in Canada for February: Report
When it comes to mental health, Albertans have the lowest score in the country, according to new research.
Since April 2020, LifeWorks has been releasing monthly reports about well-being and comparing the scores to their pre-pandemic mental health benchmark.
The Mental Health Index for February lists Alberta at the bottom, with a ranking of -12.5 points, which is just a 0.3 improvement over January’s score.
The province at the top of the list is Quebec, with a score of -6.3, which is a level not seen since the launch of the index two years ago, according to LifeWorks.
“There's been a lot of upheaval,” Paula Allen, global leader and senior vice president, research and total well-being, LifeWorks. “At the very beginning, there were some real economic strains in Alberta, which actually also played into it, even prior to the pandemic.”
“We know that financial well-being is a driver for mental well-being and this inflation is going to be something that we have to adjust to for a while.”
Looking at Canada as a whole, last month’s score was -10.6, which is nearly a one-point improvement from January’s score of -11.3.
The data suggests that the pandemic has forced 30 per cent of Canadians to change their career goals, and 11 per cent to switch jobs. Those making the shift have a mental health score of -21.3, which is over 10 points below the country’s average.
“Canadians continue to face many challenges, both within and outside of the workplace as a result of the pandemic, across the full physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing spectrum,” said Stephen Liptrap, LifeWorks president and chief executive officer, in a release.
“The decisions being made are largely due to people seeking opportunities to improve their overall well-being,” Liptrap adds.
Another effect of the pandemic, and mental health of Canadians, has been social interaction. LifeWorks has found that 66 per cent of Canadians, or nearly two-thirds, are comfortable with less social interaction than before COVID-19. Those willing to interact less, have a better mental health score, the research suggests.
“I do think that just because it is easier to be by oneself, and it is easier to limit your social interaction, it doesn't mean it's good for you," Allen said.
“We've seen a decline in people's connections and an increase in sense of isolation well before the pandemic, and unfortunately, it's been accelerated.”
When looking to the future, Allen is optimistic.
“If we do nothing, we will stay in a difficult place and perhaps a worse place,” says Allen. “But what I'm hoping is that this information will inspire people to do something active to support their mental health and well-being, and we can change the curve that way.”
“This has been a long period of time that we have been under unusual strain. When that's the case, it doesn't snap back immediately. It takes a while for people to get A hold of their footing, (and) really be intentional about things that make a difference.”
LifeWorks collected data from 3,000 Canadians through an online survey, in English and French, from February 1 and 8, 2022. All of those surveyed were employed in the last six months.
The margin of error is +/- 1.8 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
The full report is available here.
If you, or someone you know, needs support, the Mental Help Line is a confidential service for Albertans experiencing mental health concerns available toll free at 1-877-303-2642.
Additional mental health resources can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.