Poll: Ontarians feeling pessimistic, frustrated, anxious during 3rd wave

By Michael Ranger

The third wave of the pandemic has been tough on mental health with a new survey suggesting more Ontarians are pessimistic about the future, compared to earlier this year.

The new Maru poll suggests the third wave of the pandemic has caused people to return to a previous level of negativity not seen since the peak of the second wave.

The poll says 68 per cent of residents think things will continue to get worse before they start to get better with 63 per cent saying they generally have a negative feeling.

More than a third of respondents say they are frustrated, anxious and bored.

While positive emotions have started to return south of the border, with more than half of the respondents saying the are now feeling positive, that number remains below 50 per cent in Canada.

Ontario has seen an even steeper drop-off in the last month as the province has returned to a provincewide stay-at-home order. Only 37 per cent of Ontarians report feeling positive compared to 43 per cent across Canada.


RELATED: Ontario could reopen more outdoor spaces, science table adviser says


Respondents were asked when they expect they would feel comfortable resuming certain activities. Based on the answers, data was compiled that produced thresholds, including when 50 per cent of people would feel okay returning to specific things.

Half of respondents said they think they will be willing to see a doctor for a non-emergency appointment or get their haircut before the end of July. It isn’t until May of 2022 when half of people say they think they would be comfortable getting on a plane or not wearing a mask.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that while progress is being made nationwide with more Canadians receiving vaccines, public health measures aren’t poised to be eased until COVID-19 case counts are down and the majority of people have at least one dose.

Once that happens, Trudeau said “we’ll be able to talk about going back to school, back to work, and back to more normality.”

Almost 40 per cent of Canadians have been vaccinated to date with at least one dose and government officials have said at least 75 per cent need to be vaccinated to get close to herd immunity against COVID-19.

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