In the SCMH, 2.4% (2020 SCMH), 4.2% (2021 SCMH), and 3.8% (2023 SCMH) reported suicidal ideation, and 21%, 25%, and 25% respectively, screened positive for at least one mental illness (i.e., MDD, GAD, or PTSD). Sociodemographic distribution of the SCMH respondents have been reported in previous studies [1, 6]. Among adults who reported suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, 83.0% screened positive for a mental illness. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of screening positive for a mental illness observed by sociodemographic characteristics or pandemic-related experiences, with the exception of feelings of loneliness and people from a low income tertile (Table 1). In contrast, the prevalence of screening positive for a mental illness among adults without suicidal ideation was much lower, at 21.2% and differed across most of sociodemographic characteristics and pandemic-related experiences examined. For example, the prevalence of screening positive for a mental illness was significantly higher among female/woman+, as well as those who were younger than 65 years of age, born in Canada (i.e., answered no to immigrant status), low income, living in a population center, and who experienced loss of job/income or feelings of loneliness/isolation during the pandemic. For people without suicidal ideation, prevalence of mental illness was 3.56 times among people with feeling of loneliness/isolation compared to those without feeling of loneliness, but it is only 1.32 time for people with suicidal ideation.
Table 1 Prevalence and prevalence ratio of screening positive for GAD, MDD, and/or PTSD among adults with and without suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020, 2021, 2023 Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health combined data.
|
With suicidal ideation N = 1015
|
Without suicidal ideation N = 27437
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio(95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Overall
|
83.0 (79.2, 86.8)
|
|
21.2 (20.4, 22.1)
|
|
Gendera
|
|
|
|
|
Female/Woman+
|
84.7 (79.8, 89.6)
|
1.05 (0.95, 1.17)
|
25.3 (24.1, 26.4)
|
1.48 (1.37, 1.61)***
|
Male/Man+
|
80.4 (74.0, 86.8)
|
(ref)
|
17.0 (15.9, 18.2)
|
(ref)
|
Age Group
|
|
|
|
|
18-34
|
86.8 (80.4, 93.2)
|
1.11 (0.95, 1.29)
|
31.5 (29.3, 33.7)
|
2.84 (2.53, 3.20)***
|
35-64
|
80.3 (75.3, 85.3)
|
1.03 (0.88, 1.19)
|
20.8 (19.8, 21.8)
|
1.88 (1.69, 2.09)***
|
65+
|
78.3 (67.9, 88.7)
|
(ref)
|
11.1 (10.0, 12.1)
|
(ref)
|
Racialized group memberb
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
80.3 (67.2, 93.5)
|
0.97 (0.81, 1.15)
|
22.3 (20.2, 24.3)
|
1.07 (0.96, 1.18)
|
No
|
83.2 (79.2, 87.2 )
|
(ref)
|
20.9 (20.0, 21.8)
|
(ref)
|
Immigrant status
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
84.6 (74.9, 94.4)
|
1.02 (0.90, 1.16)
|
18.9 (17.3, 20.6)
|
0.85 (0.77, .94)**
|
No
|
82.7 (78.6, 86.8)
|
(ref)
|
22.2 (21.3, 23.1)
|
(ref)
|
Income tertile
|
|
|
|
|
Low
|
87.1 (82.9, 91.3
|
1.14 (1.0, 1.31)*
|
23.5 (22.1, 24.8)
|
1.21 (1.10, 1.33)***
|
Middle
|
81.6 (73.9, 89.4)
|
1.07 (0.91, 1.26)
|
21.2 (19.7, 22.7)
|
1.10 (0.99, 1.21)
|
High
|
76.2 (66.8, 85.7)
|
(ref)
|
19.4 (17.9, 20.8)
|
(ref)
|
Living area
|
|
|
|
|
Population center
|
83.4 (79.3, 87.5)
|
1.03 (0.90, 1.19)
|
21.9 (21.0, 22.9)
|
1.24 (1.12, 1.37)***
|
Rural area
|
80.6 (70.4, 90.8)
|
(ref)
|
17.7 (16.2, 19.3)
|
(ref)
|
Educational attainment
|
|
|
|
|
High school or lower
|
84.6 (77.7, 91.6)
|
1.03 (0.94, 1.14)
|
22.2 (20.6, 23.8)
|
1.06 (0.97, 1.16)
|
Post-secondary
|
82.1 (77.7, 86.4)
|
(ref)
|
20.9 (19.9, 21.9)
|
(ref)
|
Loss of job/income
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
85.0 (79.1, 91.0)
|
1.04 (0.95, 1.13)
|
32.9 (30.8, 35.0)
|
1.84 (1.70, 1.99)***
|
No
|
82.2 (77.5, 86.9)
|
(ref)
|
17.9 (17.1, 18.7)
|
(ref)
|
Feelings of loneliness/isolation
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
87.2 (83.3, 91.1)
|
1.32 (1.13, 1.54)***
|
37.3 (35.8, 38.8)
|
3.56 (3.26, 3.88)***
|
No
|
66.0 (56.6, 75.5)
|
(ref)
|
10.5 (9.7, 11.3)
|
(ref)
|
Abbreviations: GAD, generalized anxiety disorder; MDD, major depressive disorder; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; ref: reference group.
a Response options for 2020 and 2021 was male/female; response option for 2023 was man+/woman+
b We coded individuals who identified as visible minorities or Indigenous as racialized group members and those who identified only as White as non-racialized. Statistical significance: *** p-value < .001; ** p-value < .01; * p-value < .05.
Table 2 Prevalence and prevalence ratio of screening positive for GAD, MDD, PTSD among adults with and without suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020, 2021, 2023 Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health combined data.
|
Generalized anxiety disorder
|
Major depressive disorder
|
Posttraumatic stress disorder
|
With suicidal ideation N = 570
|
Without suicidal ideation N = 17950
|
With suicidal ideation N = 564
|
Without suicidal ideation N = 17825
|
With suicidal ideation N = 553
|
Without suicidal ideation N = 17506
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Prevalence, % (95% CI)
|
Prevalence ratio (95% CI)
|
Overall
|
57.6
(52.2, 63.0)
|
|
13.0
(12.3, 13.6)
|
|
73.7
(69.2, 78.2)
|
|
15.1 (14.4, 15.8)
|
|
43.8 (38.7, 49.0)
|
|
5.9 (5.4, 6.4)
|
|
Gendera
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Female/Woman+
|
63.4
(57.1, 69.8)
|
1.27
(1.04, 1.56)*
|
15.9
(15.0, 16.8)
|
1.6
(1.44, 1.78)***
|
75.7
(70.1, 81.2)
|
1.05
(0.92, 1.20)
|
18.0 (17.0, 19.0)
|
1.48
(1.34, 1.63)***
|
47.0 (40.4, 53.7)
|
1.20
(0.92, 1.55)
|
7.4 (6.7, 8.1)
|
1.69
(1.41, 2.03)***
|
Male/Man+
|
49.8
(41.2, 58.4)
|
(ref)
|
9.9
(9.1, 10.8)
|
(ref)
|
71.8
(64.3, 79.3)
|
(ref)
|
12.2 (11.2, 13.2)
|
(ref)
|
39.3 (30.9, 47.6)
|
(ref)
|
4.4 (3.7, 5.0)
|
(ref)
|
Age group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18-34
|
56.3
(46.9, 65.7)
|
1.17
(0.81, 1.68)
|
19.2
(17.5, 21.0)
|
3.0
(2.58, 3.50)***
|
77.5
(70.0, 85.0)
|
1.06
(0.88, 1.27)
|
23.9 (21.9, 25.9)
|
3.45
(2.97, 4.0)***
|
36.8 (28.4, 45.3)
|
0.96
(0.60, 1.55)
|
8.7 (7.3, 10.0)
|
3.60
(2.78, 4.65)***
|
35-64
|
60.1
(53.6, 66.6)
|
1.25
(0.89, 1.76)
|
12.9
(12.1, 13.7)
|
2.01
(1.76, 2.31)***
|
70.2
(64.3, 76.2)
|
0.96
(0.80, 1.14)
|
14.6 (13.7, 15.5)
|
2.10
(1.83, 2.42)***
|
50.9 (44.1, 57.7)
|
1.33
(0.87, 2.03)
|
6.1 (5.5, 6.7)
|
2.53
(2.03, 3.16)***
|
65+
|
48.2
(34.2, 62.1)
|
(ref)
|
6.4
(5.6, 7.2)
|
(ref)
|
73.3
(62.2, 84.3)
|
(ref)
|
6.9 (6.1, 7.8)
|
(ref)
|
38.2 (24.7, 51.8)
|
(ref)
|
2.4 (2.0, 2.9)
|
(ref)
|
Racialized group memberb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
64.8
(49.7, 79.9)
|
1.17
(.91, 1.50)
|
12.3
(10.9, 13.8)
|
0.94
(0.82, 1.07)
|
68.5
(52.8, 84.1)
|
0.93
(0.73, 1.17)
|
16.1 (14.3, 17.9)
|
1.09
(0.96, 1.23)
|
55.9 (39.7, 72.1)
|
1.36
(1.0, 1.87)
|
6.4 (5.3, 7.5)
|
1.11
(0.91, 1.35)
|
No
|
55.6
(49.9, 61.2)
|
(ref)
|
13.2
(12.4, 13.9)
|
(ref)
|
74.0
(69.4, 78.5)
|
(ref)
|
14.8 (14.0, 15.6)
|
(ref)
|
40.9 (35.6, 46.2)
|
(ref)
|
5.7 (5.2, 6.3)
|
(ref)
|
Immigrant status
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
66.4
(54.0, 78.8)
|
1.19
(0.96, 1.47)
|
10.4
(9.3, 11.6)
|
0.75
(0.66, 0.84)***
|
75.5 (62.2, 88.7)
|
1.03
(0.85, 1.24)
|
12.9 (11.5, 14.4)
|
0.81
(0.71, 0.91)***
|
60.7 (46.7, 74.8)
|
1.50
(1.14, 1.95)*
|
5.0 (4.1, 5.9)
|
0.79
(0.65, .97)*
|
No
|
56.0
(50.2, 61.7)
|
(ref)
|
14.0
(13.3, 14.7)
|
(ref)
|
73.3 (68.7, 78.0)
|
(ref)
|
16.0 (15.2, 16.8)
|
(ref)
|
40.6 (35.2, 46.0)
|
(ref)
|
6.3 (5.7, 6.8)
|
(ref)
|
Income tertile
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Low
|
61.8
(54.7, 68.9)
|
1.22
(0.94, 1.58)
|
14.4
(13.3, 15.5)
|
1.20
(1.07, 1.35)**
|
80.6 (75.6, 85.6)
|
1.30
(1.08, 1.57)**
|
16.8 (15.6, 18.0)
|
1.25
(1.11, 1.41)***
|
56.1 (48.9, 63.2)
|
1.31
(0.95, 1.82)
|
7.4 (6.5, 8.2)
|
1.55
(1.27, 1.90)***
|
Middle
|
54.8
(45.0, 64.6)
|
1.08
(0.81, 1.45)
|
12.7
(11.5, 13.8)
|
1.05 (0.93, 1.20)
|
75.8 (67.6, 83.9)
|
1.22
(0.99, 1.50)*
|
15.3 (14.0, 16.7)
|
1.15
(1.0, 1.31)*
|
34.4 (26.0, 42.9)
|
0.81
(0.55, 1.20)
|
5.4 (4.6, 6.2)
|
1.14
(0.91, 1.42)
|
High
|
50.7
(39.3, 62.1)
|
(ref)
|
12.0
(10.9, 13.1)
|
(ref)
|
62.0 (51.6, 72.4)
|
(ref)
|
13.4 (12.1, 14.6)
|
(ref)
|
42.7 (31.0, 54.3)
|
(ref)
|
4.7 (4.0, 5.5)
|
(ref)
|
Living area
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population center
|
57.1
(51.2, 63.0)
|
0.95
(0.74, 1.23)
|
13.4
(12.7, 14.1)
|
1.22
(1.07, 1.40)**
|
73.5 (68.7, 78.4)
|
0.99
(0.84, 1.17)
|
15.8 (15.0, 16.6)
|
1.34
(1.18, 1.51)***
|
42.8 (37.2, 48.4)
|
0.86
(0.63, 1.19)
|
6.1 (5.6, 6.7)
|
1.33
(1.08, 1.63)**
|
Rural area
|
60.1
(47.1, 73.0)
|
(ref)
|
10.9
(9.6, 12.2)
|
(ref)
|
74.4 (63.6, 85.2)
|
(ref)
|
11.8 (10.5, 13.1)
|
(ref)
|
49.6 (36.4, 62.9)
|
(ref)
|
4.6 (3.8, 5.5)
|
(ref)
|
Educational attainment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High school or lower
|
58.1
(48.0, 68.1)
|
1.01
(0.82, 1.23)
|
14.4
(13.1, 15.8 )
|
1.16
(1.04, 1.30)*
|
77.9 (69.6, 86.1)
|
1.09
(0.96, 1.23)
|
16.8 (15.3, 18.3)
|
1.16
(1.04, 1.29)*
|
43.1 (33.8, 52.4)
|
0.97
(0.75, 1.26)
|
6.4 (5.4, 7.4)
|
1.11
(0.93, 1.34)
|
Post-secondary
|
57.7
(51.8, 63.7)
|
(ref)
|
12.4
(11.7, 13.1)
|
(ref)
|
71.7 (66.6, 76.8)
|
(ref)
|
14.5 (13.7, 15.3)
|
(ref)
|
44.3 (38.2, 50.4)
|
(ref)
|
5.7 (5.2, 6.3)
|
(ref)
|
Loss of job/income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
61.6
(53.3, 69.9)
|
1.11
(0.93, 1.34)
|
20.8
(19.0, 22.5)
|
1.93
(1.74, 2.13)***
|
77.5 (70.8, 84.3)
|
1.08
(0.96, 1.22)
|
24.7 (22.8, 26.7)
|
2.0
(1.81, 2.20)***
|
47.6 (39.1, 56.0)
|
1.15
(0.90, 1.45)
|
10.4 (8.8, 11.9)
|
2.25
(1.88, 2.68)***
|
No
|
55.2
(48.4, 62.0)
|
(ref)
|
10.8
(10.1, 11.4)
|
(ref)
|
71.5 (65.7, 77.3)
|
(ref)
|
12.4 (11.7, 13.1)
|
(ref)
|
41.5 (35.1, 48.0)
|
(ref)
|
4.6 (4.2, 5.0)
|
(ref)
|
Feelings of loneliness/isolation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yes
|
61.2
(55.1, 67.3)
|
1.44
(1.11, 1.87)**
|
23.1
(21.8, 24.3)
|
3.68
(3.28, 4.12)***
|
77.6 (72.8, 82.3)
|
1.35
(1.12, 1.62)***
|
28.1 (26.7, 29.5)
|
4.32
(3.86, 4.83)***
|
45.7 (39.7, 51.7)
|
1.26
(0.91, 1.73)
|
11.5 (10.5, 12.5)
|
5.21
(4.32, 6.27)***
|
No
|
42.5
(32.9, 52.2)
|
(ref)
|
6.3
(5.6, 6.9)
|
(ref)
|
57.6 (47.7, 67.6)
|
(ref)
|
6.5 (5.8, 7.2)
|
(ref)
|
36.4 (26.8, 46.0)
|
(ref)
|
2.2 (1.9, 2.6)
|
(ref)
|
Abbreviations: GAD, generalized anxiety disorder; MDD, major depressive disorder; PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder; ref: reference group.
a Response options for 2020 and 2021 was male/female; response option for 2023 was man+/woman+
b We coded individuals who identified as visible minorities or Indigenous as racialized group members and those who identified only as White as non-racialized. Statistical significance: *** p-value < .001; ** p-value < .01; * p-value < .05
When the three mental illnesses are examined separately (Table 2), a similar pattern emerged as in Table 1. Among those with suicidal ideation, there were few statistically significant prevalence ratios in terms of screening positive for a mental illness by sociodemographic characteristics and pandemic-related experiences. Conversely, among those without suicidal ideation, the prevalence ratios were significant for most of the factors examined. More specifically, the prevalence was higher among female/woman+, those who were younger than age 65, born in Canada (i.e., answered no to immigrant status), low income, those living in a population center, and those who experienced loss of job/income or feelings of loneliness/isolation during the pandemic.