Mental health during the first wave of COVID-19 in Canada, the USA, Brazil and Italy.

Despite key infrastructural and COVID-19 mortality differences between the countries, the MH effects appeared to be quite similar. HCPs, with the exception of Canada, reported less impact on their mental health compared to the general population, suggesting resilience in the face of adversity.Key pointsRates of current mental health disorders were similar across Canada, the USA and Brazil but lower in Italy, yet much higher than pre-pandemic ratesNon-Healthcare Practitioners (HCPs) reported significantly higher severity on all MH scales in the overall sample. This was consistent within the USA, Brazil and Italy, however in Canada, HCPs reported higher anxiety, depression and stress symptom severity compared to Canadian non-HCPs.Canadian HCPs reported significantly higher anxiety and depression symptom severity than all other countriesCanadian HCPs also reported significantly greater increases in alcohol and cannabis use, lower levels of perceived emotional support and more worry about themselves or their loved ones contracting COVID-19 compared to HCPs in the other countries.