Are Screens Getting the Best of Us?

Canadians Are Digitally Connected, Yet Millions Are Feeling Lonely

Muskoka–Parry Sound, ON (May 4, 2026) – Technology means we can connect instantly with anyone, anywhere. And yet, across Canada, people are increasingly reporting feelings of loneliness. As we spend more time online, this Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is asking: what does it mean for our mental health?

Youth are the loneliest of all age groups: almost 1 in 5 youth (ages 16–24) report feeling lonely often or always. At the same time, they are among the heaviest users of social media and digital tools.

But young people are not alone. Nearly all people in Canada are connected to the internet, and about 8 in 10 use social media, many spending hours online each day. Meanwhile, approximately 5 million people in Canada (13%) report feeling lonely often or always. Loneliness is strongly linked to anxiety, depression, substance use, and disengagement.

“Connecting with each other is an antidote to loneliness, and it protects our mental health. But how we connect matters,” says Marion Cooper, President and Lead Executive Officer, CMHA National. “Spending more time online doesn’t always mean feeling more connected.”

Statistics Canada data (2025) show that virtual connection alone is not enough. People who rely only on online interaction with family and friends are more likely to feel lonely. Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) people who connect only online are frequently lonely, compared to 15% of those who connect both in person and virtually.

“While technology can help us stay connected, it cannot replace face-to-face connection, which is essential for our mental health,” adds Cooper. “We need to create space for real, human connection—for children, youth, and adults alike.”

#ComeTogetherCanada – Mental Health Week 2026

Somewhere in Canada right now, someone is feeling alone.
Not because they want to be. Not because they’ve done anything wrong.
But because disconnection has quietly become part of modern life.

This year’s Mental Health Week theme, #ComeTogetherCanada, focuses on strengthening connection and improving mental health through real-world community engagement.

From May 4–8, 2026, the Canadian Mental Health Association Muskoka–Parry Sound invites community members to come together in a simple but meaningful way through FREE Community BBQs across the region.

Good food. Friendly faces. Real connection.

Community BBQ Schedule (11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. daily)

May 4 – Huntsville
Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site
100 Frank Miller Drive, Huntsville

May 5 – Sundridge
CMHA Sundridge Office
87 Main Street, Sundridge

May 6 – Parry Sound
CMHA Parry Sound Office
60 James Street, Parry Sound

May 7 – Gravenhurst
CMHA Gravenhurst Office
1100A Muskoka Rd S, Gravenhurst

May 8 – Bracebridge
CMHA Bracebridge Office
173 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge

Everyone is welcome! Come say hello, connect, and take part in strengthening community mental health

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