# COVID-19 in Rural Ontario Communities: Exploring Women’s Mental Health During a Pandemic

## TL;DR

This study explores how the pandemic worsened mental health for women in rural Ontario, highlighting the need for targeted support.

## Contribution

The study identifies gender-specific mental health disparities in rural Canadian communities during the pandemic.

## Key findings

- Women in rural Ontario reported significantly poorer mental health during the pandemic compared to men.
- Women experienced increased substance use and greater worry about social and financial stressors.
- Mental health outcomes were strongly associated with gender, emphasizing the need for gender-specific interventions.

## Abstract

Purpose: Socio-demographic inequities in mental health were magnified by COVID-19, with women experiencing greater household burden with less support in Canada and globally. While some health patterns during COVID-19 have been observed globally, there is a research gap in rural mental health during COVID-19 in Canada. We hypothesize there is a disparity in mental health decline during COVID-19 between men and women. Methods: In rural Ontario, mental health was measured through a survey of approximately 18,000 individuals living in seven counties. In 2021, survey respondents were asked to rate their mental health prior to and during COVID-19. Women reported poorer mental health during COVID-19 in comparison to men when tested via chi-squared tests, odds ratios, and percentage change. Responses to survey questions regarding social, financial, and mental health support were then evaluated. Findings: We found significant disparities in mental health ratings before and during COVID-19 between men and women. Women reported poorer mental health, increased substance use, and increased worry about social, financial, and community stressors. Respondents who self-identified as a woman were associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Interventions should be specific to geographic communities as well as individual needs (e.g., additional financial and childcare support). Rural communities need to be considered as independent geographies rather than as one geography (i.e., urban vs. rural).