A survey conducted by Narrative Research found that 31 percent of Atlantic Canadians have faced financial hardship in their households as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
While 24 percent of Atlantic Canadians reported facing financial hardship when the survey was first conducted in the summer, that number has risen above 30 percent in the fall.
These results are in line with the rest of Canada where Narrative Research reports 32 percent of Canadians reported facing financial hardship in the fall, compared to 29 percent in the Summer.
The survey conducted in September also shows that 33 percent of Atlantic Canadians have applied for financial assistance programs, up from 29 percent who reported applying in April.
Narrative Research also reports 33 percent of Atlantic Canadians reported having experienced a major emotional or mental health hardship over the course of the pandemic – the same percentage as when the survey was conducted in summer.
The report indicated most of the highest percentage of those experiencing mental health and emotional hardship were in the Millennial age group and unemployed.
Across Canada, 38 percent of Canadians reported experiencing major emotional or mental health hardship over the course of the pandemic, with the sentiment most felt in the Prairies and Ontario with 46 percent and 43 percent reporting respectively.
The information for the survey came from two sources: the East Coast Voice online panel which recorded over 1,900 responses from Atlantic Canadians and the Logit Group’s Omnibus panel which recorded over 1,200 responses from Canadians.
This story was written by Liam Floyd, a reporter for Huddle. Huddle is an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
