As public health officials confirm that Canada is into its second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that as infection rates spike, so do personal anxiety and concern over falling ill, reaching peaks not seen since the spring.
Two-in-three Canadians (64%) say the worst of the health impacts from the novel coronavirus are yet to come. This represents a stark increase in worry from June, when nearly the same number held the opposite view – that the worst was over.
On a more positive note, asked to describe their mental health over the past few weeks, three-quarters of Canadians report that it is at least “good” (58%), if not “great” (15%).
That said, those under the age of 35 appear to fare worse. More than one-third of both men and women in this group saying they are struggling.
Further, two-in-five women between the ages of 35 and 54 – the demographic most likely to be caring for children and other family members – say their mental health is bad (34%) or terrible (4%).
More Key Findings:
- Seven-in-ten Canadians now say they are concerned about personally contracting COVID-19, up from a low-point of 46 per cent in early June.
- 35 per cent of Canadians over the age of 54 now say they are “very concerned” about becoming sick, the highest mark recorded thus far by the Angus Reid Institute, and up from 14 per cent in early June.
- 73 per cent now say they feel the worst of economic impacts is yet to come for their province. Half of Canadians said this when asked in that same June survey.
Read the rest of the story here: www.angusreid.org/covid-second-wave-september