3 | This Week | Thursday,March 3,2022 durhamregion.com What happensWhen your brain doesn't get enough sound? Your ears collect sound, but it's your brain that actually understands it. With hearing loss, there isn't enough sound information coming to your brain from your ears, or the quality of that information is too low. This makes it much harder for the brain to orient itself in your surroundings, and focus on what's important. That's why good hearing helps your brain stay fit throughout your life. Call today to book your no charge hearing assessment to learn about your hearing ability. *receive an in-office demo of oticon's BrainhearingtM technology. *Clinician to determine candidacy. We offer oticon's BrainhearingtM technology, which helps you to: Orient better in the full sound scene Focus more clearly on what you choose Improve your understanding of speech Reduce the effort it takes you to listen Improve your memory 1031 simcoe street north, oshawa, on. L1g 4W3 Funding Ministry of Health Assistive Devices Program, GM Green Shield, VAC,WSIB, ODSP, and MCSS funding available. receive up to $2500 off a pair of oticon's BrainhearingtM technology for a limited time. Call clinic today for details. 905-240-5055 www.deeganhearingclinic.com Proudly Family owned, local mattersPROUDLY FAMILY OWNED.LOCAL MATTERS 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 on-set 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 -- particular- ly 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 men- tal health crisis when this is over" -- 77 per cent, up from 69 per cent when the pandemic began. Visit www.cmhadurham.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 JENNIFER O'MEARA jomeara@durhamregion.com NEWS SURVEY REPORTS HIGHEST RATE OF PEOPLE USING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS SINCE COVID-19 ONSET 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. Metroland file photo Source: Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario survey data Metroland graphic Riding the COVID roller coaster 20% 40% 60% How many people feel their mental health is "excellent" or "very good" over the course of the pandemic? Spring 2020 Summer 2020 Winter 2021 Winter 2022 52% 48% 35% 43% 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 Source: Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario survey data Metroland graphic Parenting in the pandemic of parents say dealing with the pandemic has been difficult for their children 60% of parents say their children have difficulty dealing with an uncertain future 65% up from a year ago 57% up from last year 60% of parents believe not going to school has been difficult 67% of parents believe not being able to do regular activities outside of home and not seeing friends has been difficult for children 80% Police have issued a warning about a scam linked to the province's promise to refund automobile licence plate fees. Texts sent to phones provide a bogus link for refunds of money paid for licence plate stickers, Durham police said. "Don't click on the link," police warned in a post on Twitter. "It's a scam." An image of the message posted on Twitter indicates the text offers a return of $120 and provides a link to obtain the funds. Service Ontario, which manages licence plate renewals, does not provide refunds or rebates via text, police said. For information on the rebates, go to the Service Ontario website: https:// www.ontario.ca/page/get-refund-or- credit-your-licence-plate-sticker-or- drivers-licence 'DON'T CLICK': POLICE WARN OF LICENCE PLATE REBATE SCAM