Despite some indication of recovery in the well-being of adults in Canada in the late stage of the pandemic, there remains room for improvement, especially among certain sociodemographic groups such as younger adults.
Key Findings
Results
Mean life satisfaction was higher in the late stage of the pandemic (2023) compared with both the early (2020) and mid (2021) stages.
Data collected in early stage: September to December 2020 (N=11,324), mid stage: February to May 2021 (N=5,742), and late stage: February to May 2023 (N=11,526)
Population-based, cross-sectional data from adults in the 10 Canadian provinces were analyzed
Mean life satisfaction showed improvement from 2021 to 2023 and from 2020 to 2023
Results
The prevalence of high self-rated mental health (SRMH) was higher in 2023 compared with 2021, but remained lower in 2023 compared with 2020.
High SRMH was one of three positive mental health outcomes examined alongside high community belonging and mean life satisfaction
Recovery was partial: improvement was observed relative to the mid stage but not full recovery to early-stage levels
Similar patterns were observed among many subgroups, though the specific groups to which they applied varied by PMH outcome
Results
The prevalence of high community belonging was higher in 2023 compared with 2021, but remained lower in 2023 compared with 2020.
Community belonging was assessed as one of three positive mental health (PMH) outcomes
The pattern of partial recovery mirrored that observed for high self-rated mental health
This pattern was observed overall and across various subgroups, with variation by specific PMH outcome
Results
Younger adults displayed relatively low positive mental health estimates at all three timepoints across the pandemic.
Younger adults were identified as a sociodemographic group of particular concern
Low estimates were observed at early (2020), mid (2021), and late (2023) stages of the pandemic
Younger adults were highlighted as a group for whom there remains particular room for improvement in well-being
Background
Canadians' positive mental health decreased during the early and mid stages of the COVID-19 pandemic prior to showing partial recovery in the late stage.
The study examined PMH during the transition away from the pandemic being a global health emergency
Three PMH outcomes were tracked: high self-rated mental health, high community belonging, and mean life satisfaction
The study used population-based, cross-sectional survey data from all three cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health
Ooi L, Drover J, Stephenson E, Capaldi C, Roberts K. (2026). Positive mental health among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: Findings from three cycles of the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health.. Health reports. https://doi.org/10.25318/82-003-x202600100002-eng