Is 2020 the worst year of your life? Many Canadians, Americans say ‘yes’

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – There’s no doubt about it: 2020 has been a tough year.

But it turns out, half of people surveyed in Canada think it’s up there as one of the worst of their lives — and it’s only the middle of August.

From the global outbreak of COVID-19 to the number of international and domestic conflicts that have played out since the beginning of 2020, it’s no surprise many people are feeling worse for wear this year.

According to the latest data from Leger and the Association of Canadian Studies, while Canadians are evenly split, 58 per cent of Americans say 2020 is the worst year of their lives to date.

Broken down by region, Ontarians were out in front as thinking this year was the worst, at 54 per cent, while B.C. and Quebec were the lowest, at 46 per cent.

The age breakdown is telling too: Younger Canadians were more likely to think 2020 was the worst year ever, as 56 per cent of 18 to 34 year olds answered in the affirmative, compared to just 47 per cent of those aged 55 and older.

Last week, human resources and technology company Morneau Shepell reported the mental health of many Canadians was taking a hit due to the current situation we’ve all found ourselves in amid the pandemic, as well as the impacts of recent traumatic events, such as the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police that was capture on video and widely shared.

There are also growing concerns about the impacts a potential second wave of COVID-19 would have on the economy and Canadians’ mental wellbeing.

About on-in-three people have said a second wave would have a negative impact on their mental health if they were forced to go back into social isolation.

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