The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of life and work in unprecedented ways, and put enormous pressure on health systems. This report, Different Boats in a Stormy Sea: The mental health impacts of COVID-19 on Nova Scotians, provides a first look at the self-reported impacts of COVID-19 on mental health of Nova Scotians, and identifies key trends in the use of mental health services in Nova Scotia before and since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The study was led by the Maritime SPOR Support Unit (MSSU), in collaboration with Nova Scotia Health, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness (DHW), and Research Nova Scotia, which facilitated access to the survey data collected by Mental Research Canada (MHRC) and Pollara Strategic Insights.
This research provides a blueprint for working with health system stakeholders including Patient Partners to use available data to understand the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of Nova Scotians and monitor how these changes impact the health system. This study can also help to identify areas of need and guide planning and resource allocation as we navigate our ongoing response to the pandemic and look towards recovery.
