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Mental health issues through the decades: What you need to know

October 2023

At every stage of our lives, we face different mental health challenges—from depression and anxiety to burnout and stress. As we age, the mental health issues that we face change—life’s stressors, risks, and challenges shift and it is important to be aware of the different issues that may arise.

Taking care of your mental well-being should be a priority whether you are in your 20s, 60s, or somewhere in between. It is never too soon or too late to start looking after your mental health.

Mental health in your 20s

Just over 13% of Canadians between 20-29 years¹ have said that their mental health is fair to poor. Research² indicates that depression has a typical onset during the mid-20s, so it’s no surprise that over ⅛ of Canadians in their 20s experience depression. In 2022, a study conducted by Mental Health Research Canada³ found that 17% of those aged 20-29 reported feelings of depression.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)⁴ is a mental health issue characterized by worrying excessively and uncontrollably about day-to-day events and activities. During the pandemic, 13.6% of Canadians experienced GAD⁵, with women being more affected than men (17.2% versus 9.9%). Another study³ found that 26% of Canadians aged 20-29 reported experiencing anxiety during 2022.

Schizophrenia⁶ and bipolar⁷ disorder are commonly present during your early 20s. Schizophrenia⁸ affects how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others, and is often characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Bipolar disorder⁹ is a medical condition that results in a person experiencing periods of depression and periods of elevated moods.

Mental health in your 30s

Canadians in their 30s also struggle with depression and anxiety.

19% of Canadians aged 35-39 and 17% of those aged 30-34³ reported experiencing depression
27% of Canadians aged 30-39³ reported experiencing anxiety during 2022

From financial stress to work stress to family stress, Canadians in their 30s are no strangers to stress. Thirty-six percent of Canadians aged 35-39¹⁰ reported feeling like most days are stressful or extremely stressful. This stress often leads to burnout—51% of Canadians in their 30s said they don’t particularly enjoy what they do¹¹.

While postpartum depression and anxiety don’t exclusively affect women in their 30s, the average age of childbirth in Canada is 31.3 years old¹². Twenty-three percent of new mothers¹³ in Canada reported feelings consistent with postpartum depression.

Mental health in your 40s

Canadians in their 40s battle a lot of the same mental health concerns as those in their 30s.

19% of the Canadian population³ between 40 and 49 have reported experiencing depression
27% of Canadians aged 40-49³ reported experiencing anxiety during 2022
27.5% of Canadians aged 40-49¹⁴ perceived their life to be extremely stressful most days

One of the biggest issues that presents in your 40s is loneliness. One study¹⁵ looked at the levels of loneliness throughout the decades and they pinpointed a peak in the mid-40s.

Mental health in your 50s

In your 50s, stress, depression, and anxiety still present as issues.

19% of Canadians aged 50-54 and 7% of Canadians aged 55-59³ reported experiencing depression
27% of Canadians aged 50-54 and 12% of Canadians ages 55-59³ reported experiencing anxiety during 2022
22% of Canadians¹⁴ aged 50-59 reported they experience extreme stress on most days

Menopause is a major mental—and physical—health concern for women in their 50s. The average age that women transition through menopause in Canada¹⁶ is 51.5 years and a lot of the symptoms can impact their mental health. The fluctuations and eventual loss of estrogen¹⁷ can have a negative impact on your mental well-being and can cause sleep disturbances¹⁷, cognitive decline¹⁸, and depressive symptoms¹⁷.

Mental health in your 60s

A lot of mental health issues in the 60+ crowd tend to go undiagnosed for several reasons:

They still feel there is a stigma¹⁹ surrounding mental illness
They are unlikely to complain²⁰ about their mental health
They distrust psychological treatment options¹⁹
Their symptoms are mistaken as a “normal” part of the aging process
Their lack of support systems²¹ means symptoms go unnoticed

In your 60s, stress, depression, and anxiety still present as issues.

7% of people 60 and older in Canada³ reported experiencing depression
12% of Canadians over 60³ reported experiencing feelings of anxiety
22% of Canadians aged 60-64 and 10.6% of Canadians aged 65+¹⁴ reported they experienced extreme stress on most days

Signs of mental health issues to look out for

Mental health is something that should always be on your radar. And while we can do everything in our power to protect our good mental health, it is also important to know the warning signs of mental health disorders to be able to react—and get help—quickly. Some of the signs of mental health issues you can look for are: