If the stress of this long running pandemic is getting you down, you are far from alone.

The Ontario branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has released a new survey which suggests only 35-percent of Ontarians consider their mental health to be very good or excellent, compared with 52 percent in the first round of polling last May.

The percentage of respondents who report high or very high stress levels has increased to 36-percent from 30-percent last summer.

And the poll also finds 57-percent are feeling lonelier since the COVID-19 pandemic began with 47 percent saying they wish they had someone to talk to. Thirty-six percent say they are often, very often or almost always lonely.

In light of the results, staff with the Canadian Mental Health Association are urging the Ford Progressive Conservatives to prioritize mental health in the upcoming budget March 24th.