Madam Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Cloverdale—Langley City. As always, I look forward to her remarks. I find her to be an incredibly thoughtful individual who is constantly in touch with her constituents. I know she will add a lot to this debate.
Before I begin my comments, I will compliment the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam. This is a member who joined our caucus after the 2019 election. She has repeatedly touched my heart with her remarks, specifically about Bill C-7 and the necessity for hope. I actually think those sentiments ring true here this evening as well, as we discuss such an important matter, the issue of violence against women here in Canada. This has really come to light with the terrible tragedy of these seven lives recently being lost in Quebec.
As I reflect upon this and the situation within myself, my family, my circle of friends and my community, what I keep coming back to is the incredible toll this last year of being in the pandemic and working together for the collective good has taken. It has been so important, but it has come at such a price to our mental health.
I genuinely believe that although this problem existed, and of course it existed, as the previous speaker indicated, for generations before I was here, we have really seen it amplified in the last year with the situation of the pandemic.
I am really happy that my leader, in his five-point plan for securing the future, has indicated he will make mental health a priority. That is of absolute necessity. Our discussion here this evening reflects it.
I see it in my own community. CTV here in my city has reported that before COVID-19, 5% of Canadians reported high to extreme levels of anxiety. Now we see that that number has multiplied to 20%. Self-reported cases of depression have more than doubled from 4% to 10%. When asked what they expect if social isolation continues onwards, respondents generally anticipated anxiety levels to remain the same but for depression to worsen.
These types of mental health impacts are the things that we are seeing playing out within the pandemic. It is taking a severe toll. In fact, there is fear that when we finally come out of this pandemic or return to the new normal, we will experience an echo pandemic.
In addition, we have seen opioid overdoses spike during COVID-19, as a result of people's attempts to cope and figure out a way through this pandemic. My province recorded 301 opioid deaths from April to June of this last year, more than double the rate from January to March. We see that increasing significantly, as well.
Distress Centre Calgary has said that suicide-related calls, texts and chats were up 66% in the month of October over previous months. I could go on and on.
All to say, I think this is a problem that has existed for a long time, but the situation we have found ourselves in over the last year has amplified it beyond belief. We have to figure out a way to emerge from this as a society with the government leading the way. Unfortunately, it has led to horrific consequences, as we have come to learn.