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A Léger survey for Mouvement Santé mentale Québec took place from February 16 to 18. It reveals that 74 percent of Quebecers consider their mental health good.
This statistic is promising as the province approaches March 13, the National Day for the Promotion of Positive Mental Health.
This survey not only highlights the positive self-assessment of mental health among Quebecers but also draws attention to the intrinsic link between mental health and self-esteem. Interestingly, the data suggest a correlation where individuals with lower self-esteem tend to perceive their mental health negatively.
The importance of self-esteem and self-confidence as foundational elements for individual choices, relationships, and achievements was emphasized by Diane Chayer, president and trainer at Diane Chayer Consultation, Inc.
Chayer noted, “Self-esteem and self-confidence support the process of restoring or acquiring the power to act of individuals and groups. Supporting their development even promotes social transformation.”
The survey further reveals that self-esteem is influenced not solely by individual efforts but also by external factors such as friendships, family dynamics, education, romantic relationships, and economic status.
In contrast, negative impacts on self-esteem are attributed to discrimination, media influence, social media, and economic challenges. Notably, economic status presents a more significant negative impact among the 18-34 age group (26 percent) and those with an annual family income below $40,000 (25 percent).
Workplace recognition, or the lack thereof, is highlighted as a critical factor in mental health. Renée Ouimet, Director of Mouvement Santé mentale Québec, and Jacques Forest, Ph.D., Professor at UQÀM's École des sciences de la gestion, both stress the importance of recognition at work as a protective factor for mental health.
The survey also sheds light on self-esteem across different age groups, revealing a stronger sense of self-respect, pride, and self-satisfaction among seniors compared to younger individuals.
This finding prompts a call for increased intergenerational support, as noted by Marjolaine Sioui, executive director of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission.
Sioui reflects on the societal evolution that has diminished the role of elders and the potential loss of cultural and knowledge transmission.
Roxane de la Sablonnière, a full professor in the Psychology Department at the Université de Montréal, discusses the complexity of identity and its role in shaping self-esteem. She suggests that the coherence and clarity of our multiple identities can serve as “vitamins for our self-esteem.”
