Nova Scotia Reports Highest Rate of Perceived Mental Health Challenges in Canada
Recent Statistics Canada data shows 19.9 per cent of Nova Scotians perceive their mental health as fair or poor, the highest rate among Canadian provinces and more than double the figure recorded in 2015.
Nova Scotia has the highest rate of perceived mental health challenges of any province in Canada, according to the most recent community health survey results from Statistics Canada. The data indicates that 19.9 per cent of people in the province perceive their mental health to be fair or poor.
British Columbia is the next highest province, with 17.8 per cent of residents reporting fair or poor mental health — more than two full percentage points lower than Nova Scotia. The current figures represent a significant increase over the past decade; in 2015, only 8.1 per cent of respondents in Nova Scotia reported fair or poor mental health, a figure that has increased every year since then.
Dr. Andrew Harris, senior medical director for the Mental Health and Addictions Program in Nova Scotia, pointed to social determinants as contributing factors to rising anxiety rates. He identified fiscal insecurity, jobs, tax burdens, food insecurity, accommodation issues, and loneliness as key drivers. Dr. Harris noted that anxiety disorders affect approximately 18 to 20 per cent of the population based on other studies, not just in Nova Scotia.
Anxiety can manifest physically in three escalating stages. The first involves skeletal muscle symptoms such as headaches and tension. The second includes involuntary muscle symptoms like gastrointestinal problems and high blood pressure. The third stage involves cognitive disruption.
Tens of thousands of Nova Scotians have accessed free online resources provided by mental health programs. Dr. Harris emphasized the importance of mental health literacy and early intervention through various resources, including online tools, counselling, and community services.