3.2
Psychological Distress

The Study used the following definition for psychological distress:

An unpleasant subjective state that combines a set of physical, psychological and behavioural symptoms which cannot be attributed to a specific pathology or disease. These symptoms, such as fatigue, irritability, concentration problems, anxiety or insomnia, are sometimes similar to depression and sometimes to exhaustion.

Depending on the situation or the intensity of the stressors, symptoms can also include feeling lonely, being discouraged, weeping easily, being fearful, being negative towards others and having memory problems.

Psychological distress is the product of perceived stress that occurs when the constraints you face exceed the resources available. All of us are likely to experience some degree of psychological distress over the course of our lives, and while it is not necessarily indicative of a mental health illness, it can be an early warning sign. 

Map of Canada depicting psychological distress by province and territory. The Study revealed that 55% of Alberta survey respondents indicated they have experienced psychological distress at least once since the beginning of their career, similar to 57% of national survey respondents. Over half of the national survey respondents who reported having experienced psychological distress rated their level of distress as high to very high. 

National survey respondent groups with the highest proportions of psychological distress include those who:

  • live with a disability
  • identify as a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community
  • are between the ages of 26 and 35 years 
  • have less than 10 years of professional experience  
  • are female
  • practice in a public, not-for-profit or private practice setting 

Last modified: Friday, 26 September 2025, 12:10 PM