Toronto's 20-somethings face rising financial stress, mental health challenges, and growing isolation
Young adults in Toronto are facing significant challenges, including worsening mental health, severe financial pressures, and increasing social isolation, as reported to CNC News.
These difficulties are more pronounced than in previous years and more severe than those experienced by older generations. The Toronto Foundation released a new research brief on Wednesday, highlighting the struggles of Torontonians aged 18 to 29 as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.
These brief paints a grim picture of a cohort grappling with the rising cost of living, the shift to hybrid work, and challenges in forming social connections, even as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.
The pandemic exposed and intensified existing societal issues, particularly for young adults, according to Mohamed Huque, director of community impact at the Toronto Foundation.
Huque emphasized the critical nature of this developmental stage, warning that if these challenges are not addressed, they could have long-term detrimental effects. The brief details several key findings that underscore the severity of the situation for young adults in Toronto.
In 2023, 40 percent of 20-somethings were worried about paying their rent or mortgage each month, a significant increase compared to 22 percent of those aged 30 and older.
The number of young adults concerned about rent or mortgage payments nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023, a period during which inflation reached a 40-year high of 6.8 percent.
Food insecurity has also sharply increased among this age group, with twenty-somethings experiencing a six-fold increase in food bank usage in 2023 compared to 2019. This rise is stark compared to the three-fold increase seen among those aged 30 and older.
Mental health among young adults has also deteriorated, with 45 percent of 20-somethings reporting their mental health as fair or poor in 2023, compared to 33 percent of those aged 30 and older.
Notably, self-reported mental health among this group in 2023 returned to levels similar to those seen in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, after showing some improvement in 2021 and 2022.
Social isolation is another significant concern, with 44 percent of 20-somethings reporting feeling lonely at least three days a week in 2023, compared to 31 percent of those aged 30 and older.
The brief also found a correlation between increased screen time and symptoms of depression and anxiety, although it remains unclear whether more screen time causes poor mental health or vice versa.
Stachen Lett-Frederick, executive director of Frontlines Toronto, noted that her organization, which serves the low-income Weston neighbourhood, has seen a doubling in the number of young people accessing its services between 2022 and 2023.
She expressed concern over the growing reliance on social services among young people, many of whom are coming to her organization hungry, homeless, jobless, or depressed, with some even considering suicide. Lett-Frederick stressed that economic well-being is essential for mental well-being.
The Toronto Foundation’s brief suggests that while the financial challenges faced by young adults are complex and significant, the issues of social isolation, though equally harmful, may be easier to address.
One of the most striking findings is that 50 percent of those aged 18 to 29 prefer to work from home only one day a week or less, in contrast to 72 percent of those aged 30 and older who prefer to work remotely two to three days a week.
This preference indicates a strong desire among younger adults for more in-person interactions.
Huque pointed out that while hybrid work is beneficial for some employees, others have different needs, and it is crucial to accommodate those needs.
The Toronto Foundation recommends that employers encourage in-person work, offer training and mentorship opportunities, train managers to recognize mental health issues, and provide better access to employee support programs.
Additionally, the foundation calls on social service providers and policymakers to make in-person services the default, invest in activities that promote well-being and connection among young adults, and create more vibrant community spaces.
These actions aim to address the growing social isolation and declining civic engagement in Toronto, ultimately improving the quality of life for young adults in the city.
