Youth Mental Health in Canada

There’s a lot happening in the world of mental health right now. With a major election coming up in Canada, conversations about mental health and the best approaches to support youth, are taking centre stage. There’s also been a shift in how youth mental health organizations are engaging with young people. (See our blog of updates from the IAYMH Conference last week!) 

News in Canadian Youth Mental Health

Lately, there’s been more recognition of the importance of gathering data to understand exactly who is being affected and how. Excitingly, this past week saw the launch of a new platform called The Youth Mental Health Data Hub. This hub was created in partnership with many individuals and organizations, including Mental Health Research Canada and GreenShield, with data gathered from over 25,000 Canadians (age 16+) through Jack.org and Kids Help Phone. This hub gives a comprehensive and accessible picture of youth mental health across the country. It enables researchers, youth workers, families and youth themselves to see an accurate picture of youth mental health as a whole and trends in the data, and helps to identify specific challenges faced by certain subsets of the population. The hub also provides stories from the youth who contributed to this data. 

What Does This Mean?

As a young person, you should have access to data about your life and your peers. Having accurate, actionable information empowers you to advocate for better mental health support and services. 

Hopefully, this information also lets you know that you aren’t alone in your experiences or feelings. There are so many effects that contribute to the state of our mental health. Some are immediate, such as family dynamics, relationships, stress, responsibilities, or overall health. Others impact us on a broader scale, like public opinion, social norms, politics, unsupportive systems, or discrimination and racism. Recognizing these patterns and understanding their causes and effects can help you identify what is within your control to change and what is not. 

Data can also give us power. Having this information can give you greater resources to advocate for meaningful change. By shedding light on the unique experiences of diverse groups, such as LGBTQ+ youth, Indigenous youth, or youth in rural areas, the hub also allows policymakers and organizations to develop targeted, effective strategies to address mental health needs.

Youth-Led Change

One of the most exciting aspects of the current shift in youth mental health is the growing emphasis on youth leadership. Organizations are increasingly involving young people in decision-making processes, recognizing that youth have the lived experiences and insights necessary to shape solutions that work. (Read about mindyourmind’s Design Lab process!). The fact that this hub makes information about your well-being available to all is a great step in recognizing the importance of having everyone on the same page, from researchers to youth-serving organizations and individuals and to youth themselves.