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Youth Mental Health Issues in Canada:
Mental health is an important dimension of overall health, the absence of which contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mental disorders are a leading cause of years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY), of which depression and anxiety are the main contributors (Whiteford, 2013).The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period due to the long-term impacts of unattained academic achievement and lost work productivity throughout the lifecourse (Ratnasingham, 2013). Adolescence is afflicted with underlying personal, academic, and social pressures that impose additional strain on mental health. The inability to handle the stressors can contribute to unhealthy behaviors, including poor sleeping habits, limited physical activity, and inadequate diet.
Mental health is an important dimension of overall health, the absence of which contributes to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mental disorders are a leading cause of years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY), of which depression and anxiety are the main contributors (Whiteford, 2013).The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period due to the long-term impacts of unattained academic achievement and lost work productivity throughout the lifecourse (Ratnasingham, 2013). Adolescence is afflicted with underlying personal, academic, and social pressures that impose additional strain on mental health. The inability to handle the stressors can contribute to unhealthy behaviors, including poor sleeping habits, limited physical activity, and inadequate diet.
Statistics and Mental Health Factors:
• Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group (Pearson, 2013).• 39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). A further 17% indicate a serious level of psychological distress (Book et al., 2018).• People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder compared to the general population. At least 20% of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use disorder. For people with schizophrenia, the number may beas high as 50% (Buckley et al., 2009).• Similarly, people with substance use disorders are up to 3 times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15% of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness (Rush et al., 2008).• Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health (Mawani & Gilmour, 2010).• Studies in various Canadian cities have indicated that between 23% and 67% of homeless people may have a mental illness (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007).• Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group.• Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.• The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
• Young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group (Pearson, 2013).• 39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). A further 17% indicate a serious level of psychological distress (Book et al., 2018).• People with a mental illness are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder compared to the general population. At least 20% of people with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use disorder. For people with schizophrenia, the number may beas high as 50% (Buckley et al., 2009).• Similarly, people with substance use disorders are up to 3 times more likely to have a mental illness. More than 15% of people with a substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental illness (Rush et al., 2008).• Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health (Mawani & Gilmour, 2010).• Studies in various Canadian cities have indicated that between 23% and 67% of homeless people may have a mental illness (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007).• Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group.• Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.• The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
Mental Health and its Determinants:
- Adolescence is a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental well-being. These include adopting healthy sleep patterns; exercising regularly; developing coping, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills; and learning to manage emotions.
- Protective and supportive environments in the family, at school, and in the wider community are important (WHO).
- Multiple factors affect mental health. The more risk factors adolescents are exposed to, the greater the potential impact on their mental health. Factors that can contribute to stress during adolescence include exposure to adversity, pressure to conform with peers, and exploration of identity. Media influence and gender norms can exacerbate the disparity between an adolescent’s lived reality and their perceptions or aspirations for the future. Other important determinants include the quality of their home life and relationships with peers.
- Violence (especially sexual violence and bullying), harsh parenting, and severe socioeconomic problems are recognized risks to mental health (WHO).
- Some adolescents are at greater risk of mental health conditions due to their living conditions, stigma, discrimination or exclusion, or lack of access to quality support and services.
- These include adolescents living in humanitarian and fragile settings; adolescents with chronic illness, autism spectrum disorder, an intellectual disability or other neurological condition; pregnant adolescents, adolescent parents, or those in early or forced marriages; orphans; and adolescents from minority ethnic or sexual backgrounds or other discriminated groups (WHO).
Prevention:
Mental health promotion and prevention interventions aim to strengthen an individual's capacity to regulate emotions, enhance alternatives to risk-taking behaviors, build resilience for managing difficult situations and adversity, and promote supportive social environments and social networks. These programs require a multi-level approach with varied delivery platforms – for example, digital media, health or social care settings, schools, or the community – and varied strategies to reach adolescents, particularly the most vulnerable.
• Promoting mental health awareness and education in schools, communities, and families to reduce stigma and increase early detection of problems (Government of Canada).• Ensuring that mental health services are accessible and available to youth. Improving the mental health infrastructure and resources in Canada to reduce waiting times for assistance (Government of Canada).• Developing and funding youth support programs that provide coping strategies, emotional intelligence, and resilience-building skills. These programs can empower young people to manage stress and emotional challenges.
Mental health promotion and prevention interventions aim to strengthen an individual's capacity to regulate emotions, enhance alternatives to risk-taking behaviors, build resilience for managing difficult situations and adversity, and promote supportive social environments and social networks. These programs require a multi-level approach with varied delivery platforms – for example, digital media, health or social care settings, schools, or the community – and varied strategies to reach adolescents, particularly the most vulnerable.
• Promoting mental health awareness and education in schools, communities, and families to reduce stigma and increase early detection of problems (Government of Canada).• Ensuring that mental health services are accessible and available to youth. Improving the mental health infrastructure and resources in Canada to reduce waiting times for assistance (Government of Canada).• Developing and funding youth support programs that provide coping strategies, emotional intelligence, and resilience-building skills. These programs can empower young people to manage stress and emotional challenges.
References:
1. Whiteford HA, Degenhardt L, Rehm J, Baxter AJ, Ferrari AJ, Erskine HE, Charlson FJ, Norman RE, Flaxman AD, Johns N, Burstein R, Murray CJ and Vos T (2013) Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet (London, England) 382, 1575–1586. [PubMed] [Google Scholar].
2. Ratnasingham S, Cairney J, Manson H, Rehm J, Lin E and Kurdyak P (2013) The burden of mental illness and addiction in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 58, 529–537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar].
3. Pearson, Janz & Ali (2013). Health at a glance: Mental and substance use disorders in Canada. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-624-X.
4. Boak et al. (2018). The mental health and well-being of Ontario students, 1991-2017: Detailed OSDUHS findings. CAMH Research Document Series no. 47. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
5. Buckley et al. (2009). Psychiatric comorbidities and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 35: 383-402.
6. Rush et al., 2008.
7. Mawani & Gilmour (2010). Validation of self-rated mental health. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003-X.
8. Canadian Institute for Health Information (2007). Improving the health of Canadians: Mental health and homelessness. Ottawa: CIHI.
9. Government of Canada. (2021). Mental Health Promotion.
10. Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health.
11. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2021). Youth and Mental Health.
12. Children's Mental Health Ontario. (2021). Youth Mental Health: Fast Facts.
13. World Health Organization (WHO)(2021).
1. Whiteford HA, Degenhardt L, Rehm J, Baxter AJ, Ferrari AJ, Erskine HE, Charlson FJ, Norman RE, Flaxman AD, Johns N, Burstein R, Murray CJ and Vos T (2013) Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet (London, England) 382, 1575–1586. [PubMed] [Google Scholar].
2. Ratnasingham S, Cairney J, Manson H, Rehm J, Lin E and Kurdyak P (2013) The burden of mental illness and addiction in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 58, 529–537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar].
3. Pearson, Janz & Ali (2013). Health at a glance: Mental and substance use disorders in Canada. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-624-X.
4. Boak et al. (2018). The mental health and well-being of Ontario students, 1991-2017: Detailed OSDUHS findings. CAMH Research Document Series no. 47. Toronto: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
5. Buckley et al. (2009). Psychiatric comorbidities and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 35: 383-402.
6. Rush et al., 2008.
7. Mawani & Gilmour (2010). Validation of self-rated mental health. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003-X.
8. Canadian Institute for Health Information (2007). Improving the health of Canadians: Mental health and homelessness. Ottawa: CIHI.
9. Government of Canada. (2021). Mental Health Promotion.
10. Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health.
11. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2021). Youth and Mental Health.
12. Children's Mental Health Ontario. (2021). Youth Mental Health: Fast Facts.
13. World Health Organization (WHO)(2021).
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