COVID-19 may have lasting impacts on social cohesion: Statistics Canada

OTTAWA, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Challenges to social cohesion have remained as COVID-19 public health measures were lifted in Canada, Statistics Canada said on Wednesday.

According to the national statistical agency, the rise in violent crime during 2020-2021 was attributable in part to higher rates of sexual assault, harassing and threatening behaviours, and homicide. Additionally, the number of hate-motivated crimes reported by police increased by 27 percent to 3,360 incidents.

Hate crimes targeting religious affiliation and sexual orientation accounted for most of the national change. Racialized groups were more than twice as likely to report having experienced discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic, compared with the rest of the population, the agency said.

Meanwhile mental health has yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, particularly among youth, while fewer than six in ten Canadians reported a strong feeling of meaning or purpose.

Suicidal ideation has significantly increased since the pandemic began. The rate is highest among those aged 18 to 34 years, the agency said.

Canadian adults who were already experiencing mental health difficulties were two times more likely to report a decline in mental health because of COVID-19.

As of 2021, four in five of those seeking mental health care for post-traumatic stress disorder had trouble accessing care as a result of long wait times, appointment cancellations because of the pandemic and the cost of care, Statistics Canada said.