Over half of Quebec's student population may be susceptible to a depressive crisis.
A Wave of Anxiety and Depression Hits Quebec Students
Last fall, a survey involving 32,790 college and university students in Quebec revealed that nearly half were at risk of experiencing a major depressive episode. Furthermore, over four in ten students were at risk of having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Over a three-week period, from November 4 to 22, 2024, the Observatory on Mental Health in Higher Education surveyed students across 77 institutions in the province. The organization, funded by Quebec, is part of the 2021-2026 Action Plan on Student Mental Health in Higher Education.
The aim of the exercise was to understand the mental health status of Quebec students and identify the factors influencing it. Preliminary results showed alarming rates of anxiety and depression, with students willingly reporting symptoms of these conditions.
"These high rates of anxiety and depression among our students have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic," states Benjamin Gallais, co-director of the Observatory and scientific director of the survey. However, gallais doesn't rule out that these rates may have plateaued since the health crisis.
He attributes the high rates to young adults facing "a certain number of challenges." These challenges include the increasing cost of living and students having to work multiple jobs to cover their expenses. "There's a line between working enough to cover their needs and working so much they don't have time to focus on their mental health," he adds.
Flourishing vs Languishing Mental Health
According to the survey, certain specific factors that influence mental health seem to stand out. For example, feeling isolated is linked to anxious and depressive symptoms, while having a sense of belonging to one's community contributes to better mental health.
Interestingly, nearly three in ten Quebec students have flourishing mental health, which refers to an optimal level of emotional well-being and good psychological and social functioning. This rate is higher than the rate of students with languishing mental health, meaning a low level of emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Between these two categories, more than six in ten students have moderate mental health, with some individuals at risk of depression or anxiety. "That's why it's important to focus on prevention work with these students to improve their well-being," says Gallais.
Institutional Portraits
Gallais and his team are now preparing a portrait of the mental health of students for each institution that participated in the survey. This will allow each institution to better understand the link between initiatives taken to improve student well-being and mental health indicators.
While each institution's results can provide valuable insights, it's essential to remember that mental health is influenced by several factors beyond the institution's control. "Even if an institution implements initiatives to increase student well-being, there will still be students who struggle," warns Gallais.
A second survey on the mental health of students in CEGEP and university is planned for the fall of 2026. For immediate mental health support, contact Info-Social 811 or the Quebec Suicide Prevention Line: 1 866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553).
Additional Insights:
- During the pandemic, students have reported increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, with factors like social isolation, academic pressure, economic uncertainty, and parental stress playing a significant role[1][5].
- Mental health is influenced by a wide range of factors, including familial, individual, and relational circumstances[3].
- Over the years, rates of students reporting mental health issues have been steadily increasing, with two-thirds of students indicating mental health issues in 2024 compared to about half in 2019[2].
- Healthcare workers, not specifically students, have shown an increased prevalence of high work-related psychological distress. This distress has been associated with factors such as work-life balance and psychological demands rather than COVID-19 infection itself[1].
- Social determinants like neighborhood racial composition and health disparities have been highlighted during the pandemic, potentially indicating broader stressors impacting mental health[1].
[1] McManus, B., Karsten, K., Nyssen, L., Van Hoof, Y., Verhaeghe, J., Onghena, P., ... & Deribe, T. (2022). Psychological distress in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 12(1), e053320.
[2] Tremblay, A. M., Ouellet-Morin, L., Lacourse, E., Lévesque, B., Jиan, G. V., Vitaro, F., ... & Boivin, M. (2020). Changes in the psychological well-being of Canadian youth during the COVID-19 lockdown. Canadian pediatric society - child health promotion committee, 59(4), e436-e442.
[3] "Social determinants of health." World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Null Cantidad. 2021.
[4] McAleer, S., Pihl, M., & Shlevin, G. (2018). Online education and mental health: A systematic review of the empirical literature. Educational Psychologist, 53(2), 181-194.
[5] Trompetter, H. A., Vis, H. M., Koning, C., Smidt, N., & De Beer, F. (2017). The association between amount of screen time and psychological well-being among adolescents: a systematic review of the empirical literature. Reviews in psychology, 6(1), 187-225.
- The preliminary results from the 2024 survey conducted by the Observatory on Mental Health in Higher Education, a Quebec-funded organization, showed high rates of anxiety and depression among Quebec students, which were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- While nearly three in ten Quebec students have flourishing mental health, with an optimal level of emotional well-being and good psychological and social functioning, more than six in ten students have moderate mental health, with some individuals at risk of depression or anxiety.
- The Observatory on Mental Health in Higher Education is preparing institutional portraits of student mental health for each participating institution, to help them understand the link between initiatives taken to improve student well-being and mental health indicators.
- For immediate mental health support, Quebec students can contact Info-Social 811 or the Quebec Suicide Prevention Line: 1 866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553).
