Item - 2023.HL2.3

The Board of Health:

1. Endorsed the proposed next steps as outlined in the report (February 6, 2023) from the Medical Officer of Health.

The Medical Officer of Health gave a presentation on Toronto's 2022 Population Health Profile.

Toronto's 2022 Population Health Profile (Attachment 1) provides an overview of city's health status using available local data to help understand the collective health needs of Toronto residents. Building on the comprehensive 2019 T.O. Health Check: An Overview of Toronto's Population Health Status report, this profile provides updated information on the health status of Toronto's population.

Toronto Public Health is responsible for assessing and reporting on the health status of the city's population. This information can be used by Toronto Public Health, other divisions in the City of Toronto, health care partners, social service agencies, and other public and private sector organizations to prepare impactful interventions to improve health outcomes for residents.

Key findings from Toronto's 2022 Population Health Profile are:

- Torontonians are aging and increasingly diverse;

- Torontonians are negatively impacted by the effects of an increasingly expensive city;

- Climate change presents a significant and growing health risk, despite improvements in Toronto’s natural and built environment;

- Mental illnesses and mental health have worsened during the pandemic, with some groups more affected;

- Opioid overdoses reached record levels in 2021;

- There was a significant decrease in testing and screening for many sexually transmitted infections during the pandemic period;

- Chronic disease and its risks are increasing, as is the number of Torontonians who are overdue for health screening; and

- Infectious diseases will continue to emerge globally, presenting threats to Toronto's population.

The findings in this report identify updated population health concerns, give examples of health inequities, and inform opportunities for upstream intervention. Meaningful progress can be made to improve the health outcomes of all Torontonians with ongoing monitoring and comprehensive evidence-based services and interventions.