New data shows most Ontarians concerned about COVID-19’s impact on students’ education, younger generation

Sixty-five per cent of Ontarians are concerned about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on students’ education, according to new polling data released by Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. 

 

This data comes from the first of three polls Pollara Strategic Insights is conducting on behalf of CMHA Ontario to evaluate how Ontarians’ perceptions of their mental health are changing as they come out from underneath the pandemic.  

 

Pollara’s research shows that the Ontarians are generally concerned for the well-being of the younger generation and that younger people – aged 18-34 – are expressing greater concern for their personal mental health than those in older demographics. 

 

Pollara’s other research findings related to youth include:  

 

  • Seven-in-10 Ontarians (71 per cent) are worried about the impact the pandemic will have on the younger generation. 

 

  • Those dealing with a mental health condition tend to be younger. Thirty per cent of people aged 18-34 years of age say they have a mental health condition. 

 

  • Younger people (18-34) are more likely to say their mental health is poor (18 per cent) and see a decline in their mental health (45 per cent). 

 

  • Younger Ontarians (18-34) are much more likely to feel stress (45 per cent), anxiety (41 per cent) and feel depressed at least often (43 per cent) in the past week. 

 

  • More younger Ontarians aged 18-34 wish they had someone to talk to about the things that are worrying them (51 per cent), as compared to the general population (41 per cent). 

 

Amid the growing public concerns around COVID-19, the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health (CICMH) has created and collated these resources that may be helpful for post-secondary students and college and university staff and administrators.   

 

Housed at Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, CICMH is a partnership project that also involves Colleges Ontario, the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, and the College Student Alliance. It helps Ontario’s colleges and universities enhance their capacity to support student mental health and well-being. Learn more at campusmentalhealth.ca. 

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