The purpose of the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events is to collect data from Canadians to better understand how stressful events can impact a person’s mental health.
This voluntary survey will also cover mental health status and well-being, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social support and healthy behaviours, and the access to and use of mental health services.
The data will be used by the Public Health Agency of Canada and may be used by other government organizations to inform the delivery of mental health services and support to Canadians.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes and your email address may be used to contact you for participation in other surveys.
Information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may also be retained and used.
Collection period:
From September 8 to December 18, 2023
Collection methods:
Electronic questionnaire and telephone interview
Survey participation:
Voluntary
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
Data sharing agreements
To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada may enter into agreements to share the data from this survey, including postal code, with provincial and territorial ministries of health, the Institut de la statistique du Québec, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Institut de la statistique du Québec and provincial ministries of health may make the data available to local health authorities. Only organizations that have agreed to keep your information confidential and use it only for statistical purposes will receive the data.
Record linkage
To enhance the data from this survey and reduce response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.
Topics covered in the survey
The survey asks questions about
- mental health and well-being
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- social support and healthy behaviors
- access to and use of mental health services
- substance use.
Published data
Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.
Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.
Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.
Survey-specific questions
- Who is conducting this survey?
- How long will it take to complete this survey?
- I don't have a mental health problem. Do I need to participate?
- Couldn't other people better answer your questions?
- How will Statistics Canada protect my information?
- When and how will the results be available?
- How will I benefit from the results?
Who is conducting this survey?
The Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events is being conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Questionnaire content was developed by Statistics Canada in conjunction with the PHAC.
How long will it take to complete this survey?
It takes, on average, about 30 minutes to complete the survey. The length varies depending on each respondent's answers. For respondents who use screen readers (e.g., JAWS, NVDA, Voiceover), the completion time will be longer.
I don't have a mental health problem. Do I need to participate?
We need to interview a variety of people to ensure that the results of this survey are representative of the Canadian population. It is just as important to hear from people who have no problems as it is from those who do. Your answers are very important as they represent the mental health status of many other Canadians and help to draw a complete picture of mental health in Canada.
Couldn't other people better answer your questions?
Mental health is an important part of everyone's life. We need to interview a variety of people, old and young, men and women, in order for the survey results to represent all people living in Canada. Your answers will also help local mental health agencies or professionals to improve and develop mental health programs tailored to your local population.
How will Statistics Canada protect my information?
This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, and the information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. That means that no one will be able to associate your name with the answers that you have given.
Individual survey responses are combined with those of other participants. The results are produced in summary formats, such as graphs, charts and statistical tables. No data is released that could identify an individual.
To find out more, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.
When and how will the results be available?
Results from the survey will be released in May 2024, in The Daily, Statistics Canada's official release bulletin.
How will I benefit from the results?
Your participation in this survey will help to gather information that will give a clearer picture on Canadians' experiences of stressful or traumatic events and the potential impact of such events on mental health and well-being, and will help to develop strategies to address these impacts.