A new report also sheds light on developing trends in impaired driving and substance use
A newly released report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) points to rising mental-health issues and significant behavioural trends among adults in Ontario.
The latest CAMH Monitor survey, which continues the longest ongoing study of adult mental health and substance abuse in the province, showed that between 2016 and 2017:
- Self-rated reports of fair or poor mental health rose from 7.1% to 10.1%;
- The proportion of respondents reporting frequent mental distress in the past month increased from 7.4% to 11.7%, with particular prominence among women;
- Thoughts about suicide nearly doubled from 2.3% to 4.1%, corresponding to an estimated 426,900 adults
“It is notable to see such a broad-based increase in reports of poor mental health,” said Dr. Hayley Hamilton, Senior Scientist in CAMH's Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and co-principal investigator of the CAMH Monitor. “This points to the need to continue efforts to improve resilience among adults and reduce the burden of mental illness on individuals and families.”
“[P]eople thinking about suicide are experiencing significant distress and deserve support and treatment,” added Dr. Juveria Zaheer, clinician scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research. “The vast majority of people who experience suicidal thoughts do not die by suicide and there is hope for recovery.”
The number of drivers who admitted to texting while driving at least once in the past year has also declined from 36.8% in 2015 to 27.6% in 2017. Over that period, several public policy measures against distracted driving were introduced in the province, including steeper fines and demerit point losses, increased police presence on roads, and efforts to educate the public on the dangers of distracted driving.
Reports of driving after cannabis use have also gone up considerably from 1.3% in 2012 to 2.6% in 2017. The shift was particularly pronounced among male drivers, among whom the number went from 1.9% to 3.9%.
“While these numbers remain relatively low, the 2017 percentage represents almost 250,000 people who report driving less than an hour after consuming cannabis,” said Dr. Robert Mann, senior scientist in CAMH's Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and co-principal investigator of the CAMH Monitor.
The year leading up to legalization saw rising cannabis use, from 15.7% in 2016 to 19.4% in 2017, with a particularly prominent increase observed among women and people over 50. Over the last 20 years, the number of reported cannabis users has more than doubled; the increase was particularly drastic among 18- to 29-year-olds (from 18.3% in 1996 to 39.1% currently).
The report also revisited the theme of substance use and mental health problems among such young people. Aside from problematic use of alcohol, cannabis use, and e-cigarette use, that age group was more likely than others to have reports of suicidal ideation, frequent mental-distress days, and psychological distress.
“These data point to the high levels of stress during this stage in life and the importance of recognizing these risks and responding to them in a timely manner,” said CAMH psychiatrist and VP Education Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam.
