Mental Health In Decline: New Report Card Reveals A City Struggling To Cope

Toronto is facing a quiet but profound crisis.

According to Toronto’s first Mental Health Report Card, released in January 2026 by Thrive Toronto, mental well-being across the city has been steadily declining for nearly a decade — and the impacts are being felt most sharply by young people, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and those facing financial instability, discrimination, and housing insecurity.

The report, developed by a coalition of public health experts, community organizations, and researchers, paints a sobering picture: fewer Torontonians are reporting “excellent” or “very good” mental health, and the systems meant to support people are struggling to keep up with growing demand.

A Long-Term Decline — Not Just a Pandemic Problem

While the COVID-19 pandemic intensified stress, anxiety, and isolation, the report makes clear that mental health in Toronto was already deteriorating well before 2020.

In 2015, 73 per cent of adults in Toronto reported high perceived mental health. By 2022, that number had dropped to just 52 per cent — a 21-point decline. The steepest drop occurred during the early pandemic years, but the recovery many hoped for never arrived.

Nearly one in three adults said their mental health worsened compared to before the pandemic, underscoring how lingering economic uncertainty, rising costs of living, and social disconnection continue to take a toll.

Young People Are Struggling the Most

The findings are particularly alarming for children and youth.

By 2023, only 33 per cent of Toronto youth reported high perceived mental health. More than half were experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress, and over one-quarter reported serious distress.

Girls and young women were disproportionately affected, with only 20 per cent reporting high mental well-being. Bullying, loneliness, school stress, discrimination, and climate anxiety all emerged as major contributors.

Nearly half of youth said they felt depressed about the future because of climate change — a reminder that mental health is deeply intertwined with broader social and environmental realities.

Inequities Shape Mental Health Outcomes

The report highlights stark disparities across the city.

Younger adults (ages 18–24), people with lower levels of education, and individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or another sexual orientation consistently reported lower mental well-being. Those who had experienced discrimination or adverse childhood experiences were also significantly less likely to report good mental health.

Economic pressure emerged as one of the strongest predictors of poor mental health. Nearly one-third of Torontonians reported difficulty meeting basic needs like housing, food, and transportation. Among those experiencing food insecurity, only 36 per cent reported high mental health.

Workplace stress also played a major role. More than one in four adults reported high work stress, and those facing job insecurity were far less likely to report positive mental well-being.

In a city with the highest income inequality of any major Canadian city, the message is clear: mental health cannot be separated from affordability, job quality, and social safety nets.

Services Are Strained and Too Many Are Left Waiting

For those who do manage to access mental health services, the report found that many needs are being met. However, access itself remains a major barrier.

Ten per cent of adults and more than one-third of youth said they needed mental health support in the past year but did not receive it. Many young people reported not knowing where to turn for help, including within their own schools.

Waitlists tell an even more troubling story. The number of people waiting for community mental health support services nearly doubled between 2020 and 2023. Supportive housing wait times have climbed steadily for years, reaching a median wait of more than five years.

Delayed care, the report warns, means missed opportunities for early intervention — allowing distress to deepen into crisis.

A Call for Upstream Action

Rather than focusing solely on expanding crisis services, the report urges decision-makers to address the root causes of declining mental health.

Its recommendations emphasize:

• Targeted support for equity-deserving communities, including youth and 2SLGBTQ+ populations

• Stronger social connections to reduce loneliness and isolation

• Healthier, more secure work environments

• Increased access to mental health–promoting services, including supportive housing

Mental health, the report argues, is not just about treatment — it is about creating the conditions for people to thrive.

Why This Matters for Toronto

Mental well-being affects every aspect of city life: schools, workplaces, transit systems, healthcare, and neighbourhoods. When mental health declines, communities suffer — and the cost is felt economically, socially, and emotionally.

This report card is meant to be a baseline, not a final verdict. Thrive Toronto plans to repeat it in future years to track progress and hold systems accountable.

But the message for now is urgent.

If Toronto wants to be a livable, inclusive city, mental health must be treated as a shared responsibility — one that requires investment, political will, and a commitment to equity.

As the report concludes: It’s time for action. It’s time for well-being.