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<\/p>\nA new survey reveals that five years after COVID-19 turned our lives upside down, Ontario residents are still grappling with harmful drinking habits and declining mental health linked to the pandemic<\/p>\n
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The pandemic is long over, but the negative effects still linger.<\/p>\n
A new survey<\/a> reveals that five years after COVID-19 turned our lives upside down, people in Ontario are struggling more than ever<\/a> when it comes to harmful drinking habits and declining mental health.<\/p>\n Released this week by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), the Monitor Report<\/a> is an ongoing survey that\u2019s been conducted every year since 1977, measuring various substance use and mental health trends among Ontario adults.<\/p>\n In this year\u2019s edition, the comparisons between pre- and post-pandemic are stark.<\/p>\n Get Closer Look in your inbox<\/a><\/p>\n In 2019, for example, the number of people reporting symptoms of alcohol dependence was 7.4 per cent. In 2025, it had jumped to 12.1 per cent.<\/p>\n The percentage of adults with fair or poor self-rated mental health also increased, from 26.2 per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent last year.<\/p>\n Dr. Leslie Buckley, Chief of the Addictions Division at CAMH, was a guest this week<\/a> on our Closer Look<\/a> podcast. She offered advice on how people can improve their mental health, and where they can turn if they need help.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can watch the full episode HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you or a loved one are\u00a0struggling with substance abuse and want help, click HERE<\/a> for details about Ontario’s rapid access addiction medicine (RAAM) clinics. More information from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health can be found HERE<\/a>.\u200b<\/p>\n Hosted by Village Media\u2019s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner,\u00a0Closer Look<\/a>\u00a0is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.<\/p>\n Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed \u2014 and on the show\u2019s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca<\/a>. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.<\/p>\n Get Closer Look in your inbox<\/a><\/p>\n Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0our free nightly newsletter<\/a>, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel<\/a> or follow us on X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ![\"closer_look_shareimage_1200x628_generic\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/closer_look_shareimage_1200x628_generic.jpg;w=960.jpeg\"\/)
\nPodcast hosts Scott Sexsmith (left) and Michael Friscolanti, Editor-in-Chief of Village Media.
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\nPodcast hosts Scott Sexsmith (left) and Michael Friscolanti,\u00a0Editor-in-Chief of Village Media.
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