Several mental health problems, including major depressive episodes, bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, have been on the rise for 10 years, well before the pandemic, estimates a Statistics Canada study published Friday.
“The decline in the mental health of the population was evident in Canada before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” writes Statistics Canada in its study comparing data from 2022 and 2012.
The proportion of Canadians aged 15 and over who, in the previous year, met the diagnostic criteria for certain disorders increased significantly during these 10 years (see graph).
For generalized anxiety disorder, this proportion has completely doubled, and the increase is also significant for major depressive episodes and bipolar disorders.
As for social phobia, the increase is even more marked, almost two and a half times, suggests the most recent data, which dates back to 2002.
On the other hand, the prevalence of certain problems, such as disorders linked to alcohol use and those linked to the use of other substances, notably cannabis, has not increased. The former have decreased, and the latter have remained stable, shows the Statistics Canada study.
Generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive episodes and bipolar disorders are also on the rise in Quebec, confirm figures provided by Statistics Canada at The Press.
Other surveys, same observation
These increases were measured by comparing the results of two large pan-Canadian surveys, carried out in 2022 and 2012. These surveys, however, take into account symptoms of the previous 12 months. The 2022 data, collected between March and July, therefore includes symptoms felt in the spring and summer of 2021, when the planet, Canada and Quebec included, was still in the midst of a pandemic.
“It’s normal for symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress to increase in a pandemic,” underlines the Dr Alain Lesage, research psychiatrist at the University Institute of Mental Health of Montreal.
Other surveys have reached findings similar to those of Statistics Canada, he points out.
For example, the fact that young adults (24 and under) are most affected by moderate to severe anxiety symptoms was very clear from surveys conducted during the first five months of the pandemic by the National Institute of Health public of Quebec (INSPQ).
An increase in consultations for mental health and addiction problems has also been observed among family doctors in Ontario.
The number of prescriptions filled in pharmacies for psychotherapeutic medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics and psychostimulants, also increased in 2020 and 2021, compared to 2019.
Gaps in psychotherapy
“Unmet needs for counseling or psychotherapy were greater than unmet needs for medications or information on mental health,” notes the Statistics Canada study.
“In fact, once you can see a family doctor, he can prescribe you,” notes the Dr The wise man. And in Quebec, thanks to drug insurance, “there are no financial obstacles to using medications,” which is not the case for psychotherapy. An “absolutely unfair” situation, he deplores.
The tragedy is that we do not everywhere do what we know could make a difference, such as psychotherapy for anxiety-depressive disorders.
The Dr Alain Lesage, research psychiatrist at the University Institute of Mental Health of Montreal
Among Canadians meeting diagnostic criteria for a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or substance use disorder, only 44% received counseling or psychotherapy services, while that 59% said they needed it, shows the Statistics Canada study. And among those who received such services, less than two-thirds (64.3%) considered their needs had been met.
“We wonder which will be the first province to give a billing code to psychologists,” raises the Dr Lesage, in reference to the billing codes that Quebec doctors use for public services covered by the Régie de l’assurance santé du Québec (RAMQ).
We will also have to wait until we have other data relating solely to the post-pandemic period to be able to measure the real evolution of mental health disorders.
“What it takes is repeated measures over the next few years. It is afterward that we will be able to see what remains of this stressful period,” explains Dr.r The wise man.