Toronto mental health shows notable decline in new city report

A report from ThriveTO and partners found the share of Torontonians reporting 'very good' or 'excellent' mental health fell from 73% in 2015 to 52% in 2022, and the number of people waiting for support nearly doubled between 2020/21 and 2022/23.

A new report released by ThriveTO in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association, CAMH and the City of Toronto describes a sustained decline in self‑reported mental health across the city over the past decade. The report compiles publicly available data from Statistics Canada, CAMH, Ontario Health and the Toronto Mental Health and Addictions Access Point to create a baseline for future tracking. It is the first in a planned series of mental health "report cards" tied to the Thrive Toronto Mental Health Plan. One of the report authors noted the trend as unprecedented and highlighted its relevance to public discussion. Key findings: - The share of Torontonians reporting their mental health as "very good" or "excellent" fell from 73% in 2015 to 52% in 2022. - Declines were not even across groups; younger people and those reporting discrimination or adverse childhood experiences were less likely to report good mental health. - Between 2020/21 and 2022/23, the number of people waiting for support services nearly doubled. - For people who do access community mental health services, the report found that about 76% of identified needs were met. Summary: The report describes a sustained and uneven decline in self‑reported mental health in Toronto and rising demand on services. The authors plan recurring report cards and have said the findings should inform public discussion ahead of the 2026 municipal election.