THUNDER BAY – The number of millennials living in this area who describe their mental health as ‘very good’ has dropped in just two years, new data shows.
According to Statistics Canada, 71.5 per cent of people in the Thunder Bay District between the ages of 20 and 34 described their mental health as very good or excellent in 2011/’12. That number dropped to 56.2 per cent from data collected in 203/’14.
For Ontario and Canada, the numbers remained relatively unchanged. Other age groups in the Thunder Bay District also saw less significant changes.
“Unfortunately the data doesn’t give us an explanation as to why,” said Lynda Fraser, Health Promotion Planner with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. “It’s only one moment in time and that was two years ago.”
The sample of data is small, so whether the numbers represent a blip or a trend won’t be revealed until Canadian Community Health Survey publishes its next batch of results.
A trend would be troubling given the known effects of living with elevated stress.
“People who endure chronic long-term stress put themselves at higher risk for things like cardio vascular disease in the future, increased rates of injuries, addictions and infections,” Fraser said.
“It has ramifications for all of your body’s systems and on your mental health.”
While Canada has an official response to the issue via the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, there is no equivalent standard on the local level.
The Superior Mental Wellness at Work: Standard to Action Project aims to change that. The project has already applied for a grant of nearly $173,000 from the province that would be used for the City of Thunder Bay and through the Health Unit’s branch office areas.
The grant would see the advancement of mental health programs, information and research along with an anti-stigma campaign.
“I think reducing stigma in this area is really critical,” said Silva Sawula, manager of healthy living programs at the Health Unit. “Having people look at mental health as the same as physical health. If people have physical health concerns they’re more open to going to an employer (about it).”
The same comfort isn’t always the case with mental health issues, she added.
A decision on the funding for the Health Unit’s Standard to Action Project is likely to be known within four to six weeks.
