The negative effects that restrictive measures have on mental health during health crises
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The public health measures put in place in times of a health crisis, while necessary to protect the health of the most vulnerable, have an impact on the living and working habits of a large number of individuals. These include impacts on their physical, mental and social well-being, which can influence work productivity and employment status. A CIRANO study (Cissé et al. 2024) shows that the harm experienced from restrictive measures was significant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec, and persisted over the medium term. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL), in particular, deteriorated for those who were working, and the challenges in reconciling family and working life appear to have worsened. This points to the importance of workplaces taking mental health into account.
