Canadian mothers are carrying the family mental load, and back-to-school season is making it worse. An Ipsos poll on behalf of GreenShield found 92 per cent of mothers with children under 18 say they are primarily responsible for that burden.
The survey points to a second strain running alongside it: 68 per cent said the season increases their mental load, and 65 per cent said they feel overwhelmed. For families already managing a predictable spending spike, the pressure lands before the school year even settles in.
Dr. Khush Amaria on the load
Dr. Khush Amaria said, “For many mothers, the mental load never really switches off.” That is the clearest reading of the survey: the work is not a single task, but a constant sequence of remembering, planning, and adjusting around everyone else in the household.
She also said, “Much of the work that keeps family life running smoothly happens behind the scenes, from anticipating needs to managing competing priorities.” The result is visible in the survey sample of 1,001 Canadian mothers aged 18 to 64, where more than half reported burnout or anxiety and 71 per cent said they have delayed or avoided seeking mental health support.
BCG and back-to-school costs
A separate BCG report adds the financial side. More than half of Canadian parents said back-to-school shopping does not fit their normal household budget, and the average Canadian family is expected to spend approximately $700 this year.
Nearly 60 per cent of parents expect higher costs than last year, with rising prices named as the main driver. Middle-income families are twice as likely as top earners to report budget strain, while clothing and footwear were ranked essential by 82 per cent of families and bags and gear by 72 per cent.
Mandy Mail on mothers' priorities
The emotional toll is showing up in the same households that are trying to absorb those costs. Seventy-four per cent of mothers surveyed said they are worried about their children's mental health, and 86 per cent flagged online content and social media as a significant source of anxiety.
Mandy Mail said, “Women know when they're struggling, but they're often so busy caring for everyone else that their own needs fall to the bottom of the list.” For mothers already carrying most of the household planning, the practical choice is often to delay help while the bills and school lists keep coming.
