HABIT Wave 3

Background

Launched in September 2023, the Health, Attitudes, and Behavioural Insights Tracker (HABIT) Survey is a data collection tool designed to facilitate a better understanding of public health perspectives and outcomes in Canada at the individual, interpersonal, and systems levels. Co-led by Impact Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Behavioural Science Office (BeSciO), this study aims to identify barriers and drivers that underlie Canadians’ health and well-being.

The HABIT Survey provides a flexible and scalable research infrastructure that allows for data collection based on emerging health priorities. Each survey wave collects data from a nationally representative sample of Canadians and includes a deep dive into one to two topical public health priority areas.

HABIT is designed to complement PHAC’s existing research and surveillance framework by supplementing ongoing research, collecting data on minimally-explored topics, and openly sharing data with federal partners, academic partners, and community stakeholders.

Methodology

Data collected: March 8 to 16, 2024
Sample Size: 2,021

Each survey wave collects data from a sample of 2,000 Canadians, gathering insights from different individuals each time. Respondents are a representative mix of Canadian adults aged 18 years and older and the results are adjusted using 2021 Statistics Canada census data to accurately reflect the population distribution in Canada. The study also includes an over-sample that varies from wave to wave consisting of additional participants from groups that are harder to reach or make up a relatively small proportion of the population.

Well-Being

A third rate their mental health as “very good” or “excellent”

While the majority of respondents rate their mental health as “good,” “very good,” or “excellent” – with 33% reporting high self-rated mental health (“very good” or “excellent”) – nearly a third rate their mental health as “fair” or “poor.” Older respondents (55+) are more likely to report high self-rated mental health (45%), while younger adults (age 18-34) are less likely (23%) to report high levels of mental health. Men are more likely to report high levels of mental health (37%), compared to women (30%), as are those from high-income households (>$100K; 39%).

Self-rated mental health was relatively stable from September to March

In Wave 3, 71% of respondents report that their mental health is “good,” “very good,” or “excellent”. Self-reported mental health was relatively stable across the three waves of HABIT data collection.

Most respondents report fairly high life satisfaction

The majority (56%) of respondents report high life satisfaction (a rating of 7 or higher on a scale from 0 to 10). Older respondents (55+) are more likely to report high (67%) and very high (9-10; 26%) life satisfaction, while younger adults (aged 18-34; 51%) and those who are unemployed (74%) are more likely to rate their life satisfaction below 6 on the scale compared to the average (30%).

Nearly half report feelings of loneliness

Close to half of respondents report feeling that they lack companionship (46%), feel left out (48%), and feel isolated from others (48%) “sometimes” or “often.” Most (62%) of respondents report feeling at least one of these. Women are more likely to report at least one of these sentiments (66%), compared to men (58%), as are younger adults (aged 18-34; 73%) and those in households earning less than $40K (78%).

Half of respondents feel they are dealing with problems well

Most respondents (52%) report often or always dealing with problems well, while smaller proportions report feeling relaxed (41%) and optimistic about the future (38%) in the past two weeks.

Mental Health & Help-Seeking Behaviours

Over a third say that some of their habits negatively impact their mental health

Most respondents “somewhat agree” or “strongly agree” that taking care of their mental health is important to them (86%). Three-quarters (73%) agree that they know how to take care of their mental health and two thirds (66%) say they know how to access services to improve their mental health. Over a third (42%) say their current habits negatively impact their mental health. Younger (57%) and middle-aged (48%) respondents are much more likely than older respondents (28%) to say their habits negatively impact their mental health.

Most find sleep and time with family and friends important for their mental health

Most respondents (64%) felt that sleep was important for helping them improve or maintain their mental health. Spending time with family and friends, physical exercise, and watching television or movies are among the other top strategies reported. Preferred strategies differ by household income, with those in higher-income households (>$100K) more likely to select physical exercise (59%) and pursuing a meaningful job (27%), while those in households earning less than $40K are more likely to select using social media (26%) or consuming substances (14%).

A third say they have struggled with their mental health in the past year

Two thirds (61%) report having struggled with their mental health at some point in their lives. Younger respondents (18-34, 72%) are more likely than those aged 35-54 (65%) and 55+ (50%) to report having struggled at some point in their lives. Among respondents who report having struggled with their mental health at some point in their lives (61% of the sample), 55% report having turned to a medical professional for help, 45% turned to friends, and 44% turned to family members. 10% report not having sought help.

A quarter say they have spoken to a professional about their mental health in the past year

A quarter of respondents (26%) say they have seen or talked to a professional about their mental or emotional health in the past 12 months. The most commonly consulted professionals for mental health were family doctors or general physicians (32%), psychologists or therapists (32%,) and psychiatrists (19%). 14% report speaking to professionals through online mental health services or community-based services.

Half of respondents think (or have thought) they may have a mental health condition

Half of respondents (50%) say they think or have previously thought that they might have a mental health condition, and 28% have thought so in the past year. Among respondents who thought they might have a mental health condition at some point (50% of the sample), over two thirds (70%) say they tried to get an assessment for their condition.

The top reason for not seeking an assessment was not viewing it as a priority

Among respondents who reported suspecting that they might have a mental health condition but who did not try to get an assessment for their condition (14% of the sample), the top reasons for not having sought an assessment were not considering it an urgent concern or priority (48%), not knowing how to access services (31%), and fear of not being taken seriously (25%).

A third have been diagnosed with a mental health condition

A third of respondents (33%) report having been diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point. The most common conditions reported are depressive disorders (60%) and anxiety disorders (58%).

Vast majority of those diagnosed with a mental health condition have received treatment

Nine in ten (91%) respondents who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition received treatment at some point in their lives, and 40% received treatment in the past year.

Many suspect they have mental health conditions that have not been diagnosed

Among those who suspect they might have a mental health condition but have not been diagnosed for that condition, the top suspected conditions are anxiety (37%) and depressive disorders (24%).

Over a third have taken prescription medication for their mental health

Over a third (37%) of respondents report having taken prescription medication for their mental health at some point, and 19% have taken medication in the past year. One in ten (11%) report having taking medication that was not prescribed to them to improve their mental health.

One in ten have faced barriers to accessing mental health services in the past year

One in ten (12%) respondents report having faced barriers or difficulties in trying to access mental health services in the past year. The top barriers reported were cost (57%), long wait times (46%), and difficulties getting to appointments (38%).

Social Supports & Experiences of Discrimination

A quarter got mental health support from someone they care about in the past year

While half (48%) of respondents have never received mental health support from someone they care about, a quarter (23%) report having received such support in the past year. Men (55%) were more likely to report having never received mental health support, as were adults over 55 years of age (59%).

Over a third suspect that someone they are close with has an undiagnosed mental health condition

Over a third (36%) say one member of their immediate family has been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and 11% say their loved one has been diagnosed in the past year. Similarly, over a third (36%) say they suspect that a loved one has a mental health condition that has not been diagnosed.

Most of those who suspect a loved one has a mental health condition have suggested that they seek help

Most (79%) of those who have suspected a loved one may have an undiagnosed mental health condition suggested that their loved one seek help. A third (33%) reported that their loved one sought help after their suggestion. Among respondents who reported suspecting that their loved one might have an undiagnosed mental health condition but who did not suggest they seek help (9% of the sample), the top reasons for not suggesting help were thinking that the conversation may bring up negative emotions (35%), wanting to respect their privacy (35%), and not knowing how to help (34%).

Most respondents feel they possess strong relationships

A strong majority of respondents agree or strongly agree that they have people on whom they can count in an emergency (89%), who they can talk to about important life decisions (86%), who recognize their skill and competence (83%), and who provide emotional security and well-being (83%).

More than half of respondents feel supported by neighbours

More than half (58%) of respondents agree that people in their neighbourhood are willing to help each other, while half (50%) agree that their neighbours can be trusted. However, a quarter (24%) feel that people in their neighbourhood do not share common values, and 12% feel that their neighbours do not generally get along. Ratings of social cohesion among neighbours are generally lower for respondents dwelling in large cities, with fewer agreeing that their neighbours can be trusted (43%), and more agreeing that their neighbours do not share common values (27%).

Half describe strong connections to their local community

Half (48%) of respondents describe having a “somewhat strong” or “very strong” sense of belonging to their local community. Feelings of strong belonging are more common among first-generation immigrants (53%) and less common among those in households earning less than $40K (39%).

A quarter face discrimination in daily life a few times a month or more

Overall, a quarter (27%) of respondents report experiencing at least one form of discrimination frequently (“a few times a month” or “once a week”). These experiences include being treated as if not smart (16%), receiving poorer service (8%), and feeling threatened or harassed (7%). Overall rates of experienced discrimination are higher among visible minorities (35%) and Indigenous people (62%).

Around a quarter report experiencing age or gender discrimination

Among respondents who report experiencing discrimination at least once in their lives, age (29%), gender (22%), weight (18%), and other aspects related to physical appearance are the top reasons they perceive. Women are more likely to report experiencing discrimination on the basis of gender (31%) and age (32%), while visible minorities are much more likely to report experiencing race- and ethnicity-based discrimination (47% for each).

Physical & Mental Health Services

A fifth do not have a primary care provider, with access varying by age

Most (80%) respondents have access to a primary care provider, while a fifth (20%) do not. Those aged 18-34 are less likely to have a primary care provider (71%), compared to those aged 35-54 (79%) and 55+ (85%). Residents of Quebec (74%) are also less likely than the national average (80%) to have a primary care provider. Note: Results for this question were unchanged between HABIT Waves 1, 2, and 3.

Only a third have mental health benefits

The most common extended health benefits and insurance are for prescription drugs (64%), dental (56%), life insurance (49%), and vision care (49%). A third (35%) report having psychological or mental health benefits, and a quarter (28%) have disability insurance. Only a quarter (23%) say they have more than five days of paid sick leave per year. A fifth (19%) report having no extended health benefits or insurance.

A fifth report being at least somewhat familiar with the new 9-8-8 Crisis Helpline

More than a third (37%) of respondents report being “somewhat familiar,” “familiar,” or “very familiar” with at least one phone-based mental health service. ​ A fifth (22%) report being “somewhat familiar,” “familiar,” or “very familiar” with the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, while 30% were “not at all familiar” and 32% were “slightly familiar.” While the HABIT waves are not directly comparable, familiarity may have increased in December during the launch of the 9-8-8 line, and declined in March after the news coverage subsided.

Among those who accessed disability funding, a fifth rated the experience “poor”

A third (32%) of respondents with a disability report having accessed funding from a government disability program in 2023, while two thirds (64%) did not. Among those who accessed disability funding, 57% rate their experience accessing benefits as “good” or “excellent,” while 43% say their experience was “fair” or “poor.”

Among those who did not access disability funding, a third are unsure about eligibility

Among those who did not access government funding (64% of those with a disability), the top reasons include not having tried to apply (42%), being unsure about their eligibility (35%), and not being eligible (34%). Overall, 15% of respondents reported facing barriers when trying to access the program, with 4% experiencing multiple barriers. Among these barriers, 10% found the process too complicated, 7% had negative interactions with government representatives, and 5% needed to resubmit their application. Note that because individuals could select multiple barriers, the total percentages exceed 15%.

One in ten have used a food bank in the past year

A tenth (11%) of respondents report having used a food bank in the past twelve months. Low-income respondents (less than $40K) are much more likely to report having used a food bank (24%) compared to the average (11%).

Substance Use

Two thirds report having used alcohol in the past year

In the past year, two thirds (64%) report having consumed alcohol, while a quarter (24%) report having consumed cannabis and a fifth (20%) consumed tobacco or nicotine. Almost three quarters of respondents (71%) reported having used at least one of these substances in the past year, while 29% reported having abstained from all three in the past year.

A third of alcohol consumers are binge drinking at least once a month

Over a third of male alcohol consumers (38%) and almost a third of female alcohol consumers (30%) are binge drinking at least once a month, meaning they are having at least four (for women) or five (for men) in one day.

Majority of tobacco/nicotine users are consuming daily

Over a third (37%) of respondents who used cannabis in the past year used it once a month or less frequently. Over half (59%) of respondents who used tobacco or nicotine products in the past year used them daily, while a third (30%) of cannabis users consumed daily.

Cannabis perceived by many users as having positive impacts on mental health

When asked whether substances had a positive or negative impact on their mental health, respondents were more likely to say that cannabis had a positive impact (46%) compared to alcohol (14%) and tobacco/nicotine (14%). Tobacco/nicotine users were most likely to say that the substance has a negative impact on their mental health (23%), followed by alcohol (14%) and cannabis (9%).

Physical Health Outcomes & Health Promotion Behaviours

Self-reported physical health has been relatively consistent, with minor changes in the most recent wave

In Wave 3, two thirds (66%) of respondents reported that their physical health is good, very good or excellent. While overall trends are stable, in Wave 3, a slightly smaller proportion reported good physical health relative to Waves 1 and 2, where respectively 69% and 72% of respondents felt that their physical health was generally good.

Over half have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition

Overall, 56% of respondents reported having been diagnosed with at least one chronic health condition. Respondents reported a range of chronic health diagnoses, with hypertension/high blood pressure and arthritis being the two most commonly reported (21% and 19% respectively). The proportion having been diagnosed with at least one condition increases steadily with age, with 34% of 18-34-year-olds reporting at least one condition, followed by 51% of 35-54-year-olds, and 79% of those 55 and over.

A quarter of respondents report not having exercised in the past week

While most (75%) respondents reported engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities at least one day in the past week, a quarter (2%) reported not exercising at all. Adults aged 18-34 were more likely to have exercised at least one day in the past week (84%).

Respondents report similar sedentary habits on weekdays and weekends

Most (57%) respondents report spending six hours or more per day engaged in sedentary activities such as watching television, using the computer, reading, and driving. At the time of this survey (early March 2024), weekend patterns of sedentary activity were not substantially different from those on weekdays, potentially reflecting the limited options for outdoor and active forms of recreation during winter months.

More than a third report getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night

More than a third (37%) of respondents report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night on average. Those with household incomes below $40K are less likely to report sleeping 7-9 hours per night (50%). Sleep quality varies widely, with 44% of respondents reporting high-quality sleep, indicated by a rating of 7 or higher. Respondents with household incomes below $40K are less likely to report high-quality sleep (39%), as are those who are unemployed (30%). Those in high-earning households (>$100K) tended to report higher rates of high-quality sleep (approximately 50%).

A quarter rate their diet as very good or excellent

While a quarter (24%) rate their diet as “very good,” or “excellent,” nearly a third (30%) believe their overall diet to be “fair” or “poor.” Older respondents (55+) are more likely to rate their diet highly (30%), while younger respondents are less likely to do so (19%). Self-reported diet quality increases with household income, with 14% of the lowest income households (less than $40K) reporting a high-quality diet, in contrast with 40% for the highest income households.

More than a third have six or more hours of screen time per day

While a quarter (24%) of respondents report minimal screen time (fewer than 3 hours per day), the same proportion (24%) spend 8 or more hours looking at a screen per day. Older respondents tended to have higher rates of screen use, with only 16% of those 55 and older reporting minimal screen time, compared to 27% for those aged 18-34.

Vaccination

Half got vaccinated for the flu and/or COVID-19 in Fall/Winter 2023

Overall, 41% of respondents got a COVID-19 vaccine between September 2023 and March 2024, and 41% got a flu vaccine. ​ 48% of respondents got neither a COVID-19 nor flu vaccine.​​ Older respondents (55+) are much more likely to have gotten at least one vaccine (65%) compared to respondents aged 54 and under (43%).

Two thirds of respondents have heard of RSV

In March 2024, 27% of respondents indicated that they knew what RSV was, and 43% had heard of RSV but did not know much about it. One third (30%) had not heard of RSV. While the HABIT waves are not directly comparable, familiarity with RSV was higher in Waves 2 and 3 relative to Wave 1. This suggests a potential increase in familiarity in the population, likely due to higher news coverage of RSV and of the RSV vaccine during the seasonal infectious disease season.

Half of pregnant respondents say they would get an RSV vaccine

Across both waves of HABIT, approximately half of respondents who were pregnant, recently pregnant, or planning to become pregnant indicated that they would get a vaccine for RSV to protect their infant.

Only one in ten adults aged 60+ report having gotten an RSV vaccine

In March 2024, 10% of respondents aged 60+ indicated that they had been vaccinated against RSV, compared to 7% in December 2023.

Intentions to get an RSV vaccine in older adults remain high

In all three waves of HABIT, over half of respondents aged 60+ indicated that they would get an RSV vaccine. However, only 10% of respondents aged 60+ indicated that they had received an RSV vaccine by March 2024. Familiarity with RSV among those aged 60+ was relatively high, with 78% having at least heard of RSV. This suggests that despite high willingness to be vaccinated against RSV, seniors may be facing barriers to uptake. Note: RSV vaccines were not available for free in most jurisdictions at the time of data collection.

Trust in Public Institutions

A third rely on online search engines for information on mental health services

Overall, 34% of respondents reported that they most commonly rely on online search engines to access information on mental health services. Meanwhile, 33% rely on their primary care provider, and 28% rely on family and friends. Younger adults (aged 18-34) were less likely to consult their primary care provider (27%) and more likely to rely on social media (26%) or online search engines (44%).

Trust in Government on healthcare declined slightly in March 2024

Respondents’ trust in public health leadership varies by level of government. Overall, 48% of respondents report strongly or somewhat trusting the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).​ The Government of Canada is trusted on public healthcare by 38% of respondents​ (down from 45% in December). Provincial and territorial governments have the lowest rate of trust, overall (37%, down from 42% in December).

Low familiarity with the role of the Public Health Agency of Canada

In both Waves 1 and 3, 17% of Canadians reported being either “familiar” or “very familiar” with the role of the Public Health Agency of Canada, 29% reported being “somewhat familiar,” and more than half (54%) were “slightly” or “not at all familiar.”​

Respondents are most familiar with PHAC as an information source on vaccination

Awareness of PHAC as a source of information varies by topic area. The highest rate of familiarity is as a source of information on vaccination (64% at least somewhat familiar), followed by infectious disease (55%). Respondents are less familiar with PHAC as a source of information on emergency preparedness (47%), healthy living (46%), and mental health (45%).

Study Sample