Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic

Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Published: 2021-05-31

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September to December 2020
Data from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health^{Footnote 1}

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a mental disorder that can happen after exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events (e.g., actual or threatened death, natural disasters, violence).

Symptoms of PTSD include recurring and distressing memories, avoiding reminders of the event(s), and disturbed sleep.^{Footnote 2}

PTSD and the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals, families, and communities in many ways.

Stressors from the pandemic may increase the number of Canadians experiencing symptoms of PTSD. Those who already had PTSD may experience more severe symptoms.

A diagnosis of PTSD requires a trained and licensed clinician. The Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health used a symptom-based screening tool to identify individuals with moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD (i.e., those who would screen positive for PTSD).^{Footnote 3}

Symptoms of PTSD in Canadians aged 18+

62% of Canadians have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.

6% of Canadians screened positive for PTSD.^{Footnote 3} This was:

• Higher among women than men
  • Women 8%
  • Men 4%
• Highest among those aged 18-34
  • Women 12%
  • Men 5%
• Lowest among those aged 65 and older 3%
• Higher among frontline workers^{Footnote 4} than other Canadians
  • Frontline workers 10%
  • Other Canadians 5%

Impacts of COVID-19

Compared to those who did not screen positive for PTSD, those who screened positive were about 3 times more likely to report being impacted by the pandemic in terms of:

• Difficulty meeting financial obligations/essential needs
• Death of a family member, friend, or colleague
• Physical health problems
• Challenges in personal relationships with household members

Mental health-related issues

Compared to those who did not screen positive for PTSD, those who screened positive were more likely to report:

• Symptoms of anxiety or depression^{Footnote 5} in the past 2 weeks – 7 times more likely
• Thoughts of suicide in their lifetime – 5 times more likely
• Increased cannabis use since the beginning of the pandemic – 3.5 times more likely
• Daily cannabis use in the past month – 3.5 times more likely
• Increased alcohol use since the beginning of the pandemic – 1.5 times more likely
• Heavy drinking^{Footnote 6} in the past month – 1.5 times more likely

Visit:

• Canada.ca website on the Federal Framework on PTSD
• Canada.ca website on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

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Related links

• Cycle 2: Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Download the PTSD Coach Canada mobile app developed by Veterans Affairs Canada
• Mental health support: Get help
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Awareness resources