Sources of data

This study used the cross-sectional data files collected in 2 early cycles of the National Population Health Survey (1996 and 1998), the general health surveys of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2000, 2003, 2005, 2007/2008, 2009/2010, 2011/2012 and 2013), plus the 2 mental health Canadian Community Health Survey of 2002 and 2012 (Table 1). These surveys used a complex multistage sampling procedure to obtain a representative sample of the Canadian population. First geographical clusters were selected, then households were selected within the clusters. Finally, 1 respondent per household was selected.

Note: CCHS = Canadian Community Health Survey, NPHS = National Population Health Survey.