Definitions
In this section, you will find the definitions and explanations of the
variables used in the data tables. The source for all of these is the
Canadian
Community
Health Survey - Mental Health and Well-being (2002).
Mental health disorders
Suicide
Mental health problems
Well-being
Mental health resources access
Mental health disorders
Major depressive
episode
Major depressive episode is defined as a period of 2 weeks or more with persistent
depressed mood and loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities,
accompanied by symptoms such as decreased energy, changes in sleep
and appetite, impaired concentration, and feelings of guilt, hopelessness,
or suicidal thoughts.
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet the
CCHS 1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria for major depressive episode in the 12 months prior
to the interview. Respondents who meet the criteria reported (1) meeting the
criteria for lifetime major depressive
episode*; (2) having a depressive
episode in the 12 months prior to the interview; and (3) clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other
important areas of functioning.
*Population aged 15 and over who meet or fail to meet the
CCHS
1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria
for lifetime major depressive episode. Respondents who meet the criteria
reported (1) 2 weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest
or pleasure and at least five symptoms associated with depression which
represent a change in functioning; (2) that symptoms cause clinically
significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other
important areas of functioning; and (3) that symptoms are not better accounted for by bereavement or symptoms last more than 2 months or the symptoms are characterised by a marked functional impairment, preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, or psychomotor retardation
.
The questions and calculation of the final derived variable are based
on the
WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health - Composite International Diagnostic Interview Instrument). The WMH-CIDI is a lay-administered psychiatric interview that generates a profile of those with a disorder according to the definitions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). The WMH-CIDI questions and algorithms were operationalised to meet the needs of CCHS 1.2.
Manic episode (mania)
Mania is characterised by a period of a week or days with exaggerated
feelings of well-being, energy, and confidence in which a person can
lose touch with reality. Symptoms of mania include: flight of ideas
or racing thoughts; inflated self-esteem; decreased need for sleep;
talkativeness; and irritability.
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet the
CCHS 1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria
for mania in the 12 months prior to the interview.
Respondents who meet the criteria report (1) meeting the criteria for
lifetime mania*; (2) having a manic episode in the 12 months prior
to the interview; and (3) clinically significant distress or impairment
in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
*Respondents who meet the lifetime criteria report (A) a distinct
period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive or irritable
mood lasting at least 1 week; (B) 3 or more of 7 symptoms (or 4 or
more if mood is only irritable);
and (C) marked impairment in occupational or social functioning, or psychotic features, or hospitalisation was required.
The questions and calculation of the final derived variable are based
on the
WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health - Composite International Diagnostic Interview Instrument). The WMH-CIDI is a lay-administered psychiatric interview that generates a profile of those with a disorder according to the definitions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). The WMH-CIDI questions and algorithms were operationalised to meet the needs of CCHS 1.2.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by repeated and unexpected attacks
of intense fear and anxiety accompanied by physiological manifestations
such as palpitations, chest pain, smothering or choking, dizziness,
sweating, nausea or abdominal distress, trembling or hot flushes or
chills.
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet the
CCHS 1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria
for panic disorder in the 12 months prior
to interview. Respondents who meet the criteria reported (1) meeting
the criteria for lifetime panic disorder*; (2) having a panic attack
in the 12 months prior to interview; and (3) significant emotional
distress during a panic attack in the 12 months prior to interview.
*Respondents who meet the lifetime criteria report (A) recurrent
unexpected panic where at least one of the attacks has been
followed by one month of concern about
having additional attacks or their implications or a change in behaviour
related to attacks.
The questions and calculation of the final derived variable are based
on the
WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health - Composite International Diagnostic Interview Instrument). The WMH-CIDI is a lay-administered psychiatric interview that generates a profile of those with a disorder according to the definitions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). The WMH-CIDI questions and algorithms were operationalised to meet the needs of CCHS 1.2 .
Social phobia
Social phobia is characterised by a persistent,
irrational fear of situations in which the person may be closely watched
and judged by others, as in public speaking, eating, or using public
facilities. Symptoms include avoidance or anxiety related to the situations
and physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, nausea, dry mouth,
sweating, chest pain, faintness, dizziness, and panic attacks.
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet the
CCHS 1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria for social phobia
in the 12 months
prior to the interview. Respondents who meet the criteria reported
(1) meeting the criteria for lifetime social phobia*; (2) fearing or
avoiding social or performance situation(s) in the 12 months prior
to the interview; and (3) clinically significant distress or impairment
in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
*Respondents who meet the lifetime criteria for social phobia report
(A) a marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance
situations in which he/she is exposed to unfamiliar people or to
possible scrutiny by others, and fear that he/she will act in a way
(or show
anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing; (B) exposure
to the feared social situation almost invariably provokes anxiety,
which may take the form of a panic attack; (C) recognition that the
fear is excessive or unreasonable; (D) the feared social or performance
situations are avoided or endured with intense anxiety or distress;
(E) the avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared
social or performance situation(s) interfere significantly with the
person's normal routine, or social or occupational functioning; and
(F) in individuals under age 18, the duration is at least 6 months.
The questions and calculation of the final derived variable are based
on the
WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health - Composite International Diagnostic Interview Instrument). The WMH-CIDI is a lay-administered psychiatric interview that generates a profile of those with a disorder according to the definitions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). The WMH-CIDI questions and algorithms were operationalised to meet the needs of CCHS 1.2.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is the fear and avoidance of being in places or situations
from which escape might be difficult or in which help may not be available.
Feared situations include being outside the home alone, being in a
crowd or standing in a line, being on a bridge, and travelling in a
bus, train or automobile. Situations may be endured with distress that
can include dizziness, sweating, chest pain, nausea, feelings of helplessness
or detachment, or feeling that the body or environment is unreal. Agoraphobia
may occur alone or be accompanied by panic disorder.
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet the
CCHS 1.2/WMH-CIDI criteria
for Agoraphobia in the 12 months prior to
the interview. Respondents who meet the criteria reported (1) meeting
the lifetime criteria* for Agoraphobia; and (2) fearing or avoiding
the agoraphobic situations in the 12 months prior to the interview.
*Respondents who meet the lifetime criteria report
(A) anxiety about being in at least two different places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing and feared having a panic attack; and (B) avoided situations associated with agoraphobia; or endured situations with marked distress or anxiety; or required the presence of a companion in the situations.
The questions and calculation of the final derived variable are based
on the
WMH-CIDI (World Mental Health - Composite International Diagnostic Interview Instrument). The WMH-CIDI is a lay-administered psychiatric interview that generates a profile of those with a disorder according to the definitions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4 th Edition (DSM-IV). The WMH-CIDI questions and algorithms were operationalised to meet the needs of CCHS 1.2.
Any measured disorder or substance dependence
Respondents aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing
to meet criteria for any of the measured disorders (major depressive episode, manic episode, panic disorder, social phobia, agoraphobia) or substance dependencies (alcohol dependence, illicit
drug dependence) in the 12 months prior to interview.
Suicide
Suicidal thoughts
Population aged 15 and over are classified according to whether they
thought about committing suicide or taking their own life in the 12
months prior to interview.
Note: Some respondents were not asked the questions
required for the calculation of ‘12-month suicidal thought’.
Consequently, important information was missing for those individuals
(this represented 4.83%
of all respondents for this variable). To fill in these missing responses,
an imputation strategy was used to assign values for ‘12 month
suicidal thought’.
Mental health problems
Risk of gambling problem
Population aged 15 and over who report having participated more than
6 times in at least one gambling activity in the 12 months prior to
interview. For those that meet this criteria, the risk of having a
gambling problem is measured.
The response scale is based on a modified version of the Canadian
Problem Gambling Index (CPGI), which measures problem gambling in
population surveys. This divides respondents into categories based
on the severity of their problems associated with gambling.
Risk of eating disorder
Population aged 15 and over who indicate symptoms and concerns characteristic
of eating troubles in the 12 months prior to interview. Individuals
scoring above the threshold are considered at risk of having an eating
disorder.
The Eating Troubles module of this survey is based on a modified version
of the Eating Attitudes Test. The EAT-26 is a widely used standardized
measure of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders.
Alcohol dependence
Population aged 15 and over classified by the probability of meeting
the criteria for alcohol dependence in the 12 months prior to interview.
Respondents who meet the criteria report at least 3 symptoms related
to aspects of tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control and social or
physical problems related to alcohol use in daily life.
Illicit drug dependence
Population aged 15 and over are classified as meeting or failing to
meet criteria for illicit drug dependence in the 12 months prior to
interview. Respondents who meet the criteria report at least 3 symptoms
related to aspects of tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control and social
or physical problems related to alcohol use in daily life.
Well-being
Satisfaction with life
Population aged 15 and over rated their own satisfaction with life
in general as being either very satisfied, satisfied, neither satisfied
nor dissatisfied, dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The responses
were based on the question: “How satisfied are you with your
life in general?”
Self-rated mental health
Population aged 15 and over rated their own mental health status as
being either excellent, very good, good, fair or poor.
Self-rated work stress
Population aged 15 to 75 who reported having worked in the 12 months
prior to the interview and who responded to the question: "Would
you say that most days at work were: not at all stressful, not very
stressful, a bit stressful, quite a bit stressful, extremely stressful?" The
self-reported stress question refers to the person's main job.
Mental health resources access
Contact with services and support for problems concerning emotions, mental health or use of alcohol and drugs
Respondents are classified on their use of services and support resources
in the 12 months prior to interview concerning emotions, mental health
or use of alcohol/drugs, specifically hospitalization, personal or
telephone consultation with professionals, internet support group/chat
room, self-help group, or telephone helpline.
Unmet health care needs associated with mental health problems
Population aged 15 and over are classified according to whether they
felt that they needed help for emotions, mental health or use of alcohol
or drugs in the 12 months prior to interview, but did not receive it.
Barriers to mental health care services due to accessibility issues
Population aged 15 and over are classified according to whether they
reported unmet mental health care needs in the 12 months prior to interview
due to accessibility
issues
such as cost, lack of transportation,
lack of knowing how or where to get help, or issues such as childcare
or scheduling.
Barriers to mental health care services due to acceptability issues
Population aged 15 and over are classified according to whether they
reported unmet mental health care needs in the 12 months prior to interview
due to acceptability
issues.
Acceptability issues are those where individuals chose to do without
health care either because of competing demands on their time or because
of their attitude towards illness, health care providers or the health
care system. Examples are: deciding not to bother, not getting around
to it, prefer to manage it themselves, didn’t think it could
help, afraid to ask, or language problems.
Barriers to mental health care services due to availability issues
Population aged 15 and over are classified according to whether they
reported unmet mental health care needs in the 12 months prior to interview
because of the unavailability of services. Examples of availability
issues
include waiting too long, help not available in area or at
the time required.
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