There is urgency to improve support and do better for youth mental health, according to A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada. This report reveals the pressures young Canadians face and calls for systemic changes to address the mental health crisis.
“We can’t deny a stark reality in this country — one in two young people struggles with their mental health alone. That’s not “fine.” In fact, that’s a crisis.” – Katherine Hay, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone
Rising concerns about academic expectations, social media, climate change, and financial pressures have driven significant increases in anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges among Canadian youth. Let’s take a closer look at the report’s findings and recommendations.
Key Findings
Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey shows the rate of 18 to 34 years old reporting very good or excellent mental health decreased from 72.4% to 59% from 2015 to 2020, a decline of 13.4%, compared to an overall decrease of 7.2% across all age groups. Youth report feelings of stress, loneliness, and inadequacy, which can result in prolonged anxiety and depression. When they reach for mental health support systems, they face barriers of long wait times for mental health services, a shortage of mental health professionals, and persistent stigmas that can discourage them from seeking help. These complex issues are tied with the increasing impact of social media on youth mental health, concerns about climate change, and the residue remaining from the pandemic.
The Gaps in Mental Health Support
One of the most critical issues highlighted is the lack of accessible mental health services: “we have over 1.25 million youth in need of mental health support – approximately 550,000 of whom are receiving help, while 720,000 are not.[i]” Many youth face barriers due to cost, location, and long waitlists. The report points out that mental health services need to be integrated into primary healthcare and schools, where youth can access support more readily. The report highlights additional information about the following communities:
- 2SLGBTQI+ Communities – overall mental health indicators for 2SLGBTQI+
community members are approximately 65% to 75% more negative compared to non-2SLGBTQI+ individuals.[ii] - Gender and Sex Disparities – According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, in 2020, 58% of hospitalizations for mental health disorders among children and youth aged 5 to 24 were for females, compared to 42% for males.[iii]
- Newcomers – Kids Help Phone reported that 9% of their service delivery was dedicated to supporting youth who have been in the country for less than five years.[iv]
- Black Youth – Black Canadians indicate being much more likely (300% higher) to not access services when needed in the past year compared to non-Black Canadians.[v]
- Indigenous Youth – First Nations youth aged 15 to 24 die by suicide approximately six times more often than their non-Indigenous peers. Inuit youth face even higher rates, with suicide rates about 24 times the national average.[vi]
- Students – Students have better mental health and greater access to mental health resources compared to their non-student peers.[vii]
Despite increasing awareness, there is still a reluctance among many young people to reach out for help due to fear of judgment or not being taken seriously.
Recommendations for Change
There is a need to focus on prevention and early intervention. Doing so will reduce the burdens and constraints within the healthcare system, enhance economic productivity, and improve quality of life. To combat these challenges, the report suggests a multifaceted approach focused on three pillars:
- Prevention and early intervention
As mental health challenges start at an early age, prevention efforts must start even younger. This can be done by:
- normalizing, and educating youth on mental health
- building support systems for youth and for those around youth
- Improving resilience through support systems and peer specific supports
- Access to service
Existing services must be improved through coordination between providers. Additionally, increasing availability in services, investing in technology and community health solutions with high scalability will improve access to services and help youth connect to the right care.
The Way Forward
This report presents a disjointed system and funding structure that has created a health crisis for our younger generation. The disconnect between service providers, with the challenges in assessing mental health, combined with a lack of funding all contribute to a sector in need of reform. Creating a supportive environment for youth mental health will not only benefit individuals but society at large. The economic value lost due to untreated mental health conditions can be redirected to preventative measures to counter the cost of the mental health crisis. Increased funding, policy shifts, and community involvement are all required in moving forward.
If you’re interested in learning more about this issue, you can access the full report here.
[i] Mental Health Research Canada (2024). The Data Hub https://www.mhrc.ca/data-hub
[ii] Mental Health Research Canada (2021). A Summary of Reported Anxiety and Depression Within the LGBTQ2S+ Community Pre- and Post-Covid 19. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f31a311d93d0f2e28aaf04a/t/6172baa206a7863ad1358121/1634908835180/LGBTQS%2B+Research+Brief.pdf
[iii] The Canadian Institute for Health Information (2022). Children and Youth Mental Health in Canada. https://www.cihi.ca/en/children-and-youth- mental-health-in-canada
[iv] Kids Help Phone (2024). Kids Help Phone Insights! https://kidshelpphone.ca/get-insights/home
[v] Mental Health Research Canada (2024). Meeting the Demand: Assessing Mental Health Support Across Demographic Groups in Canada. https://www.mhrc.ca/access-to-care-report
[vi] The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2019). Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the- crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics
[vii] Jack.org (2024). Campus Assessment Tool Report: https://jack.org/getattachment/Resources/campus-assessment-tool-2024/2024-CAT-Report- V4.pdf.aspx?lang=en-CA