Key Messages

The mental health and wellbeing of family caregivers during COVID-19 is a worldwide concern. There is a growing number of family caregivers in Canada who provide critical support to children, spouses, friends, and elders/parents. However, only 11% of the published/unpublished literature is from Canada. A recent report (May 2020) from The Ontario Caregiver Organization indicates caregivers under 65 years of age are coping worse mentally and emotionally. Our review also suggests women are more likely to have poor mental health outcomes, which increase after 4 weeks of isolation. The economic implications of a distressed middle-aged work force balancing unpaid care with paid work may be devastating.

Key Messages

• Knowledge synthesis
• Sex and gender
• Unpaid caregivers
• Mental health
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stress
• COVID-19
• Coronavirus outbreaks and pandemics

Author(s)

• Nominated Principal Applicant: Monica Parry, University of Toronto
• Parry M, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Bjørnnes AK, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University
• Nickerson N, Patient Partner (Caregiver)
• Warkentin K, Patient Partner (Caregiver)
• Burnside H, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Hemani S, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Norris C, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta
• Peter E, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Pilote L, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
• Mohammed S, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
• Nylen-Eriksen M, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University
• Coupal , The Ontario Caregiver Organization

For more information, please contact:  Monica Parry, monica.parry@utoronto.ca

Related Syntheses

• What is the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the mental health of children aged 5–12, and what are the specific issues faced by children with a disability or chronic illness? A scoping review of problems experienced and promising avenues for intervention
• The Relationship Between Social Connectedness and Mental Health for Residents of Long-term Care Homes: Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization
• Alcohol Consumption and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Synthesizing Knowledge for Policy Action

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Population

Chronic Disease and/or Mental Illness, Children, Youth and Families

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.