Canada’s Mental Health Crisis: The High Cost of Delayed Youth Care

Canada's youth mental health
Spread the love

The newly released report titled “Nurturing Minds for Secure Futures” has unveiled some startling revelations about the huge economic burden that protracted periods of inadequate mental health care for children and young people imposes on Canada.

The report also stresses the need to improve Canada’s healthcare system, which is estimated to have incurred a minimum annual cost of $4 billion—a figure experts argue would most likely be a conservative estimate only.

The current research was aimed at investigating potential implications for the healthcare system if adolescents and youth continued grappling with high levels of anxiety and depression without some systemic improvements.

Delaying treatment for mental illness does not affect only the individual sufferers but also puts a huge financial strain on the whole healthcare system.

Emily Gruenwoldt, President and CEO of Children’s Healthcare Canada, stressed the need for urgency when she said; “This report serves as a clarion call for action on behalf of Canada’s children and youth.”

Gruenwoldt emphasizes how prompt investment in health systems tailored specifically to children can rewrite tomorrow.

In addition, she points out that doing so will not only better physical and mental health outcomes but save billions for both families and healthcare systems.

The report estimates that between 800,000-1.6 million children and adolescents in Canada may be living with a mental illness.

The lower number stems from an international study which found 12.7% prevalence rates of mental illness among young people.

However, it must be noted that many instances of mental illness in children go unreported; therefore, this actual rate could be closer to one in five.

Additionally, according to the report Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S+, youth are at more risk than others.

It highlights that all youth are affected by these challenges due to lack of timely access to care thus necessitating this systemic imbalance be corrected forthwith.

Impact on Canada’s Economy

There are three major types of costs identified by this report-healthcare costs, community costs, and productivity costs (indirect) to calculate “cost-of-illness” due to poor mental healthcare provision.

Healthcare costs consist of expenses related to emergency department visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays and other medical necessities.

Community costs are linked to the criminal justice system, social services, family support and mental health provisions in public schools.

Indirect costs refer to the income that is lost as parents and others have to spend much time managing their child’s mental illness owing to a lack of access to care.

Collecting the data from different Canadian sources and international studies analyzed in this report, through publicly funding systems.

Canada has spent roughly $3.5 billion on fragmentary approaches towards anxiety and depression management among young people.

Additional losses include $280 million in parental earnings and $120 million within education and justice entities.

Potential for Cost Mitigation

The report shows that an investment in mental health care services and supports that will bring anxiety and depression disorders among youth back down to pre-pandemic levels could help reduce annual expenditures by $4 billion annually and save the country up to $1.5bn.

Early intervention as important for building resilience and potentially reducing mental health issues that may persist into adulthood.

Escalation of Mental Health Issues

It has been noted that there has been escalation of mental health issues among Canadian youth over the last two decades.

The report points out a decline in the percentage of young people aged between 15 and 30 years who reported having good mental health from seventy six percent in the year 2003 to sixty percent in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic further pushed these challenges up, leading to a rise in paediatric mental health-related emergency department visits despite a general decline in overall hospital admissions.

This exposed the strain on services for mental health, which had long waiting periods for counseling and therapy, some going up to two and half years–a major problem particularly in crises.

Dealing with it as Urgent

This report requires taking immediate actions, which are presented as recommendations.

Recommendations include coming up with a national strategy on child health with provisions on resources allocation towards outcome-based programs targeting vulnerable groups and establishing a national data strategy to follow up on youth’s mental care figures.

Chad Leaver, Director, Health and Human Capital at Conference Board of Canada emphasizes that “Addressing mental health needs requires not just catching up but surpassing pre-pandemic efforts to ensure swift and comprehensive support for children and youth”.

Finally, this report portrays vividly how economic costs and human lives are jeopardized by lackluster response to mental illness amongst young Canadians.

Time is of essence as major system-wide changes need to be made now, preventing worsening of mental health problems and ensuring timely quality help for the well-being of our nation’s future generation.



Spread the love
  • People See You As More Attractive Than You Think Your Are, Study Finds

    People See You As More Attractive Than You Think Your Are, Study Finds

    Researchers explored how people see you as more attractive than…

  • Our Friends And Family Evaluate Our Relationships More Accurately Than Us, Study Finds

    Our Friends And Family Evaluate Our Relationships More Accurately Than Us, Study Finds

    Researchers explored how romantic partners incorrectly predict their relationship’s stability,…

  • Is America Getting Mentally “Sicker”? Statistics Affirm The Grim Reality.

    Is America Getting Mentally “Sicker”? Statistics Affirm The Grim Reality.

    Researchers and experts resort to statistics to lay bare the…

  • Playfulness Between Romantic Partners  Makes Relationships Last Longer: Study

    Playfulness Between Romantic Partners Makes Relationships Last Longer: Study

    Researchers explore the link between humor and longevity in romantic…

  • Listening To Classical Music Improves Memory, Study Finds

    Listening To Classical Music Improves Memory, Study Finds

    Researchers explored the link between listening to classical music and…

  • Self-Estimates Of Intelligence Is Higher In Men Compared To Women: Study

    Self-Estimates Of Intelligence Is Higher In Men Compared To Women: Study

    There are gender differences in self-estimates of intelligence. Men think…

  • How Netflix’s Blonde Highlights Marilyn Monroe’s Mental Health Struggles

    How Netflix’s Blonde Highlights Marilyn Monroe’s Mental Health Struggles

    How pop culture continues to shed light on actor Marilyn…

  • Laughter With Friends Differs From Laughter With Romantic Partners: Study

    Laughter With Friends Differs From Laughter With Romantic Partners: Study

    Researchers provide interesting insights into the science of laughter.

  • Couples Look Alike In Happier, Long-term Relationships

    Couples Look Alike In Happier, Long-term Relationships

    Researchers explored the link between couples’ facial resemblance and quality…

  • Is Mom Rage A Serious Mental Health Issue? Science Says Yes.

    Is Mom Rage A Serious Mental Health Issue? Science Says Yes.

    Researchers provide insights into “mom-rage” and recommend measures to address…

  • Use Of Gestures In Speech Therapy Spells Wonders For People With Language Disorders: Study

    Use Of Gestures In Speech Therapy Spells Wonders For People With Language Disorders: Study

    Researchers demonstrated how gestures can improve communication in people with…

  • Research Reveals How Positive Or Negative Memories Are Made

    Research Reveals How Positive Or Negative Memories Are Made

    Researchers studied the brain chemical that makes a memory positive…

  • Is The Blue Zone Lifestyle A Secret To A Healthier And Longer Life?

    Is The Blue Zone Lifestyle A Secret To A Healthier And Longer Life?

    Spread the love The “Blue Zone” includes five regions around…

  • Women With A Higher Voice Pitch Appear Younger, Study Claims

    Women With A Higher Voice Pitch Appear Younger, Study Claims

    Researchers explored how a higher voice pitch can influence the…

  • Racial Discrimination Affects Brain, Study Reveals

    Racial Discrimination Affects Brain, Study Reveals

    Researchers provided insights into how racial discrimination causes changes in…

  • Knowledge Overconfidence Fuels Anti-Scientific Views, Study Finds

    Knowledge Overconfidence Fuels Anti-Scientific Views, Study Finds

    Researchers examined the link between knowledge overconfidence and anti-scientific views.

  • How Physical And Mental Activity Affect Thinking Skills In Men And Women?

    How Physical And Mental Activity Affect Thinking Skills In Men And Women?

    Researchers explored how mental activities affect men and women differently.

  • Why Gender Pay Gap Remains Worst For Women? Study Finds

    Why Gender Pay Gap Remains Worst For Women? Study Finds

    Researchers studied the link between unpaid household work and gender…

  • Kids Who Resist Temptation Enjoy Better Life Success: Study

    Kids Who Resist Temptation Enjoy Better Life Success: Study

    Researchers explore the link between cultural upbringing and self-control in…

  • Is Tom Holland On Social Media Break For Mental Health?

    Is Tom Holland On Social Media Break For Mental Health?

    Experts reveal why we should take a break from social…

  • Frequent Naps May Raise Your Risk Of Stroke: Study

    Frequent Naps May Raise Your Risk Of Stroke: Study

    Researchers explore the link between frequent napping and cardiovascular diseases.

  • Was Jennette Mccurdy In A Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationship?

    Was Jennette Mccurdy In A Toxic Mother-Daughter Relationship?

    iCarly actor Jennette McCurdy’s memoir spills the beans about a…

  • Why Do Girls Believe Brilliance Is A Male Trait? Study Reveals

    Why Do Girls Believe Brilliance Is A Male Trait? Study Reveals

    Researchers explored the link between parental influence and children’s gendered…

  • High-Potency Cannabis Use May Cause Severe Mental Disorders: Study

    High-Potency Cannabis Use May Cause Severe Mental Disorders: Study

    Researchers explored how high-potency cannabis use is linked to addiction…

  • How Do Parent’s Drinking Habits Raise Risk Of Junk Food Addiction In Kids?

    How Do Parent’s Drinking Habits Raise Risk Of Junk Food Addiction In Kids?

    Researchers explored how parents’ drinking habits influenced their children’s addiction…

  • The Flip Side To “Dreaming Big” And Having Ambitious Career Aspirations

    The Flip Side To “Dreaming Big” And Having Ambitious Career Aspirations

    Researchers explored the link between teenage career aspirations and life…

  • Sleep Disturbances May Raise Risk Of Drug Relapse: Study

    Sleep Disturbances May Raise Risk Of Drug Relapse: Study

    Researchers revealed how REM sleep disturbances are associated with drug…