Almost three-quarters of Ontario residents feel they are experiencing increased mental health and addictions challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey.
The Ipsos Public Affairs Annual Mental Health Index survey, which was commissioned by Children’s Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) and Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO), found that 74 per cent of Ontarians are experiencing an increased mental health impact during the pandemic.
A total of 1,002 Ontario residents were surveyed online between April 28-30 for the annual poll. Quotas and weighting of those surveyed were used to ensure the results reflect the Ontario population according to census information.
The survey showed that 67 per cent of Ontarians feel that the mental health impacts of COVID-19 are going to be serious and lasting. As well, 45 per cent of Ontarians reported that their mental health has deteriorated since self-isolation requirements were put in place at the beginning of the pandemic.
“Action is needed now to support Ontario’s families. Ontario’s community mental health and addiction agencies need funding urgently for staffing, infection control measures and long-term therapy and counselling services to ensure the recovery of Ontarians and that parents and family caregivers are able to go back to work,” said Kim Moran, CEO of CMHO, in a news release. “I am especially concerned about the severity of mental health experiences of Ontario’s children and youth leading into and during COVID-19."
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, 59 per cent of parents surveyed noted behavioural changes in their child such as outbursts, extreme irritability, difficulty sleeping, and persistent sadness.
CMHO and AMHO are hoping to use the survey results to gain a better understanding of how the COVID-19 crisis is having on families as a whole.
Both organizations are urging the provincial government to immediately invest in mental health that will address pandemic-related impacts and further funding for the government's "Roadmap to Wellness" to help to reduce the rise in waitlists and wait-times.
The provincial government announced on Tuesday that it will be expanding virtual mental health services to help thousands of Ontarians experiencing anxiety and depression during the pandemic. The online programs are being offered free to all Ontarians.
AMHO and CMHO predict that a second wave of COVID-19 will come in the form of a mental health and addictions emergency.
"There are more steps that need to be taken in order to address the coming mental health and addictions crisis,” said Adrienne Spafford, CEO of AMHO. “Community-based mental health and addictions providers need the Ontario government to take action and implement the addiction and mental health strategy now. We cannot afford to wait.”
