A new study of Canadians highlights the negative mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the need for continued awareness, education and support of mental health care in the workplace, especially during the current public health crisis. It also indicates that a growing number of employers are offering proactive mental health support, mirroring employees’ interest and comfort in virtual care options as part of their mental health and wellness. The study of 1,558 employees or those recently employed in Canada and the U.S. was conducted by Leger and commissioned by Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) as a follow-up to the company’s 2019 international mental health study conducted last fall. 

As a result of COVID-19, one in two respondents indicate their mental health has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The breakdown of this data shows:

  • The negative impact on female respondents (57%) is far greater than male respondents (43%)
  • 52% of respondents between the ages of 18-34 were negatively impacted
    • This trend is similar to the U.S. where 49% of the same age group reported being negatively impacted. It is also consistent with findings from the fall study that revealed a greater need of support for this demographic
  • Respondents over the age of 65, an age group that has been deemed most at risk for the virus, experienced the lowest reported negative impact in both Canada (37%) and the United States (38%).

To support the growing impact on employees’ well-being, there is progress in opening the dialogue and closing the gap for mental health support in the workplace. Nearly 40% of respondents in Canada, far more than the 27% reported in the U.S., indicated that their employers have responded to the pandemic with some or all of the following initiatives:

  • Offering additional mental health support
  • Raising the discussion of employee mental health needs
  • Waiving fees for mental health support
  • With an increase in mental health education, awareness and support, comes increased comfort in seeking care and exploring remote care options.

The study found that Canadian respondents with an employee benefits plan (66%) are more aware of the mental health resources available to them than American respondents (55%). Furthermore, six in ten (62%) Canadian respondents said they would be comfortable using virtual care for mental health support. 85% of Canadians who have access to employee benefits said benefit plans should offer virtual care benefits as an option to support mental health concerns as they do with physical health needs.