Political disagreements over Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum continue to create tension in communities and strain personal relationships across the province.
News reporting suggests Albertans are avoiding political conversations at family gatherings and experiencing tension at work, while immigration organizations have also reported growing fear and hateful rhetoric surrounding the referendum’s immigration questions.
It’s unclear how the referendum might be affecting Albertans’ mental health, but previous studies and survey data offer insight into political division and its potential effects on well-being.
A 2026 study examining Canadian elections between 2004 and 2024 found that voters whose preferred party lost an election reported lower levels of trust in other people afterward.
The difference was even greater among those who held stronger negative feelings toward political opponents.
Many Canadians also report that consuming the news negatively affects their mental health.
A 2025 national survey found that 43 per cent of respondents reported that watching the news negatively affected their mental health, an increase of seven percentage points compared with December 2022.
Maintaining relationships
Last week, a Calgary Public Library event about managing stress during turbulent times, registered social worker Sarah Rosenfeld and psychologist Long Zhou from Calgary Counselling Centre discussed navigating disagreements with people close to us.
Zhou encouraged people to approach opposing perspectives with curiosity and mutual respect, rather than treating conversations as debates to be won.
Rosenfeld suggested speaking from personal experience and asking questions, such as, “I see it this way. I wonder what your perspective is on this.”
But understanding someone else’s position doesn’t mean a conversation has to continue indefinitely, Rosenfeld said.
“I think we gotta give ourselves permission to step away.”
She suggested acknowledging when a conversation has gone far enough or asking to revisit the subject later to help preserve a relationship.
Setting boundaries can also mean deciding not to engage in conversations that involve discrimination or threaten someone’s sense of safety.
Taking care of your mental health
- Set boundaries around political news
Zhou described a cycle in which uncertainty pushes people to check for updates, leaving them increasingly worried and wanting to check again and again.
He suggested recognizing when news consumption affects your well-being and setting limits around how often you check.
“Taking a break and disengaging is not the same as not caring,” Rosenfeld added.
- Focus on what you can control
“We can’t control what happens out there in the world,” Zhou said.
Instead, he suggested taking small actions that reflect personal values, such as helping a neighbour or getting involved in the community, to help reduce feelings of powerlessness.
- Recognize when you need support
Disrupted sleep, changes in appetite, withdrawing from others, or difficulty concentrating may signal that stress is taking a toll.
Zhou recommended prioritizing sleep, regular meals, physical activity and social connection.
“Then reach out to somebody you trust,” Rosenfeld said.
The counsellors also encouraged seeking professional support when stress begins interfering with everyday functioning.
