The number of people feeling low hope for the future has tripled as the pandemic continues into its second year
A check-up has revealed how Mackay residents are faring with their Covid-19 reality compared to the same time last year.
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The number of Mackay residents with low hope towards the future has more than tripled over the past 12 months, a check-up survey has revealed.
Mackay Regional Council engaged IRIS Research to conduct another pulse survey to compare how the community was faring during the second year of the pandemic.
Results show 14 per cent of residents have low hope from the future, soaring from 4 per cent last year.
Similarly, only two out of three people are feeling hopeful about the future compared to three in four in 2020.
Mayor Greg Williamson said the community’s mental health and wellbeing was also a concern.
“That is understandable when residents who responded to the survey rated the impact on travel and being away from family or friends as the top two concerns,” Cr Williamson said.
On the flip side, he said concerns about job security and financial impact were lower with only 6 per cent of people experiencing reduced hours or income compared to almost one in three last year.
“However, 17 per cent had still experienced reduced hours or income, compared to 27 per cent at the same time last year,” Cr Williamson said.
Deputy Mayor Karen May said while the survey showed mixed results, Mackay was overall in a better place, including people regaining confidence to attend events.
“In the survey, 70 per cent said they would attend a small event in the next three months, compared to 36 per cent 12 months ago,” Cr May said.
“And 50 per cent would attend a medium event up from 12 per cent with 12 per cent saying they would attend a large event, which was up from 8 per cent.”
And yet as more seek out entertainment, so too are more people choosing to dine-in at home with 17 per cent upping their takeaway food intake compared to 14 per cent at the same time last year.
You can see the full survey via council’s website.
Do these results surprise you? Email mackay@news.com.au
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