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Evaluating the Prevalence and Predictors of Moderate to Severe Depression in Fort McMurray, Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Gloria Obuobi-Donkor

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Ejemai Eboreime

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Reham Shalaby

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Belinda Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    Global Psychological E-Health Foundation, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Folajinmi Oluwasina

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Medard Adu

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Ernest Owusu

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Wanying Mao

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada)

  • Vincent I. O. Agyapong

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
    QEII Health Sciences Centre, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 2E2, Canada)

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has produced adverse health consequences, including mental health consequences. Studies indicate that residents of Fort McMurray, a community which has experienced trauma from flooding and wildfires in the past, may be more vulnerable to the mental health effects of the pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among residents of Fort McMurray during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional approach was adopted utilizing an online survey questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data, COVID-19 related data, and clinical information, including likely MDD using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, from the residents of Fort McMurray between the period of 24 April to 2 June 2021. Results: Overall, 186 individuals completed the survey out of 249 residents who accessed the online survey, yielding a completion rate of 74.7%. The prevalence of likely MDD among respondents was 45%. Respondents willing to receive mental health counselling were five times more likely to experience MDD during the COVID-19 pandemic (OR = 5.48; 95% CI: 1.95–15.40). Respondents with a history of depression were nearly five folds more likely to report MDD during the era of the pandemic than residents without a history of depression (OR = 4.64; 95% CI: 1.49–14.44). Similarly, respondents with a history of taking hypnotics (sleeping tablets) were nearly six-fold more likely to express MDD than respondents with no history of receiving sleeping tablets (OR = 5.72; 95% CI: 1.08–30.30). Finally, respondents who reported receiving only partial support from the employer had three times higher odds of having likely MDD than those who received absolute support from the employer (OR = 3.50; 95% CI: 1.24–9.82). Conclusion: In addition to the effect of the pandemic and other measures taken to curb the psychopathological impact of the pandemic, policymakers need to implement policies to manage individuals with preexisting mental health conditions and provide strong employer support.

Suggested Citation

  • Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Ejemai Eboreime & Reham Shalaby & Belinda Agyapong & Folajinmi Oluwasina & Medard Adu & Ernest Owusu & Wanying Mao & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2022. "Evaluating the Prevalence and Predictors of Moderate to Severe Depression in Fort McMurray, Canada during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7090-:d:835228
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vincent I. O. Agyapong & Reham Shalaby & Marianne Hrabok & Wesley Vuong & Jasmine M. Noble & April Gusnowski & Kelly Mrklas & Daniel Li & Mark Snaterse & Shireen Surood & Bo Cao & Xin-Min Li & Russell, 2021. "Mental Health Outreach via Supportive Text Messages during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Improved Mental Health and Reduced Suicidal Ideation after Six Weeks in Subscribers of Text4Hope Compared to a Control," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Md Akhtarul Islam & Sutapa Dey Barna & Hasin Raihan & Md Nafiul Alam Khan & Md Tanvir Hossain, 2020. "Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Selçuk Özdin & Şükriye Bayrak Özdin, 2020. "Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 504-511, August.
    4. Yiming Liang & Kankan Wu & Yongjie Zhou & Xin Huang & Yueyue Zhou & Zhengkui Liu, 2020. "Mental Health in Frontline Medical Workers during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease Epidemic in China: A Comparison with the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Medard Kofi Adu & Lauren J. Wallace & Kwabena F. Lartey & Joshua Arthur & Kenneth Fosu Oteng & Samuel Dwomoh & Ruth Owusu-Antwi & Rita Larsen-Reindorf & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2021. "Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Reham Shalaby & Medard K. Adu & Taelina Andreychuk & Ejemai Eboreime & April Gusnowski & Wesley Vuong & Shireen Surood & Andrew J. Greenshaw & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2021. "Prevalence, Demographic, and Clinical Correlates of Likely PTSD in Subscribers of Text4Hope during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. José A. García-Berná & Raimel Sobrino-Duque & Juan M. Carrillo de Gea & Joaquín Nicolás & José L. Fernández-Alemán, 2022. "Automated Workflow for Usability Audits in the PHR Realm," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-30, July.
    2. Nnamdi Nkire & Reham Shalaby & Gloria Obuobi-Donkor & Belinda Agyapong & Ejemai Eboreime & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2023. "Assessing Resilience and Its Correlates among Residents of Fort McMurray during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-13, June.

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