Torontonians say their mental health is plummeting

Ask most Torontonians how they’re doing and they’ll answer, “Good.” Ask about work and it’s “fine.” Mention some world news and you may get a tight-jawed “cool, cool, cool” in response. But, according to a new mental wellness report released on Blue Monday—the saddest day of the year, per the internet—it turns out Torontonians aren’t good, fine or cool, cool, cool at all. By almost every measure, the good people of Toronto aren’t doing very well.

The report, published by ThriveTO—a coalition of eight mental health leaders, including CAMH, Strides Toronto, United Way and the YMCA—found a steep drop in the self-perceived mental health of Torontonians over the past decade.

In 2015, nearly three-quarters of Toronto residents said they had good mental health. By 2022 (the last year data was collected), that number fell to just over half. Among people who identify as LGBTQ, the proportion plunged to barely a third of respondents. Adult respondents largely blamed their declining mental wellness on poor working conditions, a lack of free time and the rising cost of pretty much everything, including food, housing, transportation and clothing.

Related: I spilled my secrets to an AI therapist. It didn’t go well

The report painted an even bleaker picture of the city’s youth. Fewer than half of Torontonians ages 18 to 24 reported high perceived mental health (compared with two-thirds of those over 65). Yet, instead of pointing their fingers at labour conditions and the economy, many youth cited loneliness as the key cause of their struggles.

Mental health has been sliding among children since 2019, according to the report. More than half of the children and youth surveyed said the pandemic had a moderate-to-extreme negative impact on their mental health, and about the same percentage said they regularly experience moderate to severe psychological distress, with climate anxiety emerging as a through line.

Related: Tre Mari’s adorable new window display is making winter feel less frigid

ThriveTO offers four recommendations to boost the city’s mental well-being. Three of their proposed solutions focus on creating inclusive environments in communities, public schools and professional settings. The last suggestion is to broaden access to supportive housing and strengthen mental health supports for people experiencing minor psychological distress in order to prevent crises down the line.

As for addressing environmental concerns? While there are some climate anxiety support programs available in Toronto and online—including Carbon Conversations TO, Break the Divide’s climate emotion connections program and CAMH’s general recognition of eco-grief in its programming—ThriveTO suggests that the city needs a more defined action plan to tackle the issue.

In the meantime, let’s be kind to one another out there. Blue Monday may be behind us, but people are far from okay.