Canadians’ self-rated resilience declined to 62% from 66%, the lowest level recorded since MHRC began tracking the measure in 2022.
The report found that 17% of Canadians accessed mental health support in the past year, while another 5% said they needed support but did not access services. Separate research presented at Public Health 2026 found unmet mental health needs were highest among adults aged 18 to 34, with 52% reporting needs that were unmet or only partially met.
Financial strain and coping habits
Nearly half of Canadians (45%) said the cost of living is negatively affecting their mental health, while 36% cited concerns about paying household bills, found MHRC. Another 42% said global political events are negatively affecting their mental health.
The report also identified links between screen use and mental health outcomes. Canadians spending four or more hours daily scrolling social media, consuming entertainment content or playing video games were about twice as likely to report severe anxiety and depression symptoms than those spending less than four hours per day on those activities.
“The screen findings are not about blaming technology,” said Michael Cooper, vice-president, data & partnerships at MHRC. “They show that when screen use is passive, frequent or extends beyond what people intended, it can be an important marker of mental health strain, especially among young people.”