7 | This W eek | W |T hursday,F ebruary 24,2022 durham region.com www.aquamations.caAquamation, also known technically as alkalinehydrolysis, uses very little energy. There are no fossilfuels consumed and no smoke stacks are required.The remains are returned to the family for burial,scattering or memorialization. We are the onlyfuneral home in the area that performs this process.Call us or visit our website for more information.Trevor CharbonneauOwner/Funeral Director $1,993 Total PriceIncludes: Professional Services, Documentation, Shelter, Transfer of Remains, Coroner,Death Registration, Aquamation Fee, HST. No Funeral, No Casket A New Choice For Your Final Wishes Provided by Newcastle Funeral Home LtdFamily Owned & Operated905-987-3964 (24 hours) Family Owned And Operated Since 1953Family Owned And Operated Since 1953 733 KINGSTON RD. E. AJAX MON-WED/SAT: 9AM-6pM, THURS/FRI: 9AM-7pM SUN AND HOlIDAyS: 10AM-5pM @macmillanorchards1953 FAMILY SIZE-10" FULLY BAKED Save $8.00 PECAN PIE $6.99 REgULARLY$14.99 LOCAL ONTARIO HONEYCRISP $1.99/LB After almost two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Durham residents may be finding their rates of stress, anxiety and depression are not improving and more people are now accessing mental health supports than at any other time during the pandemic, according to the latest survey from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). "While it's troubling to see the most recent poll results showing more people are feeling stress, anxiety, and depression as a result of the pandemic, we are happy to see more people reaching out for help," Sheryl Wedderburn, CMHA Durham CEO, said via email. The recent survey showed one in four people (24 per cent) have sought help for their mental health challenges -- a significant increase from 17 per cent last winter and nine per cent almost two years ago. The results also suggested that many Ontarians are not finding the help as effective now as at the start of the pandemic. Approximately 65 per cent are now reporting that mental health supports are helpful, down from 77 per cent near the onset of COVID-19. CMHA Ontario has commissioned several surveys throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to gauge the effects of the public health crisis on people's perceptions of their mental health. The first poll was conducted in April 2020, the second in July 2020 and the third survey in Feb. 2021. The latest poll was conducted in January 2022 and the results released in early February. The recent data shows that people's levels of mental health distress -- particularly rates of stress, anxiety and depression -- are similar to the start of the pandemic. One in four Ontarians are still consuming more alcohol, cannabis or tobacco (also roughly the same as the start of the pandemic). The majority of the respondents felt that Ontario is on track for a "serious mental health crisis when this is over" -- 77 per cent, up from 69 per cent when the pandemic began. Visit www.cmhadur- ham.ca or call 906-436-8760 (or toll free at 1-844-436- 8760) for more information on local mental health supports. "CMHA Durham offers a wide range of mental health and primary care services to support our community. We encourage anyone looking for help to contact us," added Wedderburn. 'MORE PEOPLE REACHING OUT FOR HELP', SAYS CMHA DURHAM Constantly Coping with COVID Source: Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario survey data Metroland graphic of people say their mental health has worsened since the outbreak began say they are "almost always" or "very often" depressed 15%48% 32% 31% 71% of people are reporting high levels of stress have high levels of anxiety worry about the pandemic's impact up from at the start of COVID-19 36% up from at the start of the pandemic 13% down from at the start of the pandemic 79% same as the start of the pandemic same as the start of COVID-19 More people are now accessing mental health supports than at any other time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest survey from the Canadian Mental Health Association. JENNIFER O'MEARA jomeara@durham region.com NEWS SURVEY REPORTS HIGHEST RATE OF PEOPLE USING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS SINCE COVID-19 ONSET