When we think about mental health, we often picture adults juggling work, family, and life’s demands. But what about kids and teens? You’d expect Canada, with its universal healthcare and progressive policies, to have it covered, right? Sadly, that’s not the case. Many young people are struggling with mental health.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada says building strong emotional and social skills early in life is key to mental health and resilience later on. But here’s the thing — 70% of people with mental illness start noticing symptoms before they turn 18. In Canada, mental illness currently affects about 1.2 million children and teens. By the time they reach 25, that number skyrockets to 7.5 million — that’s roughly one in five Canadians. Let that sink in for a moment.
That’s why focusing on kids’ and teens’ mental health is so important — it’s shaping their future. This ties in perfectly with UNICEF Canada’s recent report on child well-being in wealthy countries. The report shows while Canada has made progress in some areas, it still falls behind in others, especially in children’s and youth mental health. Life satisfaction among children is dropping, and adolescent suicide rates are still alarmingly high.
Many factors affect children’s mental health, and the pandemic was a major one. Turns out, locking kids up at home and flipping their world upside down wasn’t exactly great for their mental health. Canada’s government reports COVID-19 lockdowns and social changes caused a big rise in youth mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. This led to more mental health visits, especially among young females, with loneliness and stress on the rise. For instance, research from Mental Health Research Canada shows in Ontario, the demand for children and youth mental services jumped by 104 percent between 2021 and 2022 alone. Also, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, less than 20% of youth transitioning to adult mental health services get the support they need.
When children and teens are struggling with mental health, it can impact their education, confidence, and ability to find a job later on. Youth unemployment is a huge issue in Canada, and when you add mental health challenges to the mix, it only gets tougher. When young people can’t find work or are stuck in jobs that don’t pay enough, it can take a serious toll on their mental health, leading to anxiety or depression. That, in turn, can make it even harder to get or hold onto a job, creating a tough cycle that’s hard to break. And to make things worse, young people in Canada are up against a pretty rough job market, which only adds to the challenge.
Canada has a long way to go when it comes to supporting children’s and teens’ mental health. These challenges aren’t just statistics — they’re real struggles that shape futures, and ignoring them only makes things worse. UNICEF Canada calls on the government to invest in better policies, mental health support, and equal opportunities, giving the next generation the tools they need to thrive.
