The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and youth

Endorsed In: 
May, 2022
Paper Type: 
Position Paper

Download: Click here to access the full paper

Authors:

  • Kashyap Patel (University of Ottawa) 
  • Nikhil Nair (McMaster)

Background: ​

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented mental health crisis. During this pandemic, Canadians have struggled with fears about their health, the well-being of their loved ones and their finances. In a survey from 2020, 50% of surveyed Canadians claimed that their mental health worsened since the start of the pandemic. Similarly, the anxiety and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted the mental health of children and adolescents across Canada. 

Some experts believe that the negative impact of COVID-19 on children was so pronounced that it should be considered an adverse childhood experience (ACE). A large Canadian cohort study showed that 67-70% of children and youth (ages 6 to 18) have experienced deterioration in at least one aspect of their mental health over the pandemic. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the frequency and effect of pre-existing ACEs on children and youth due to social isolation and increased interaction with elements that contribute to their stress and trauma. 

Recommendations: 

  • Increasing access to mental health resources through school programs and peer support initiatives.
    • Establishing a school-based educational program to improve mental health literacy and destigmatize help-seeking behaviour throughout Ontario by September 2023
    • Expanding the school-based mental health programs and peer support initiatives by increasing provincial funding by 40% by September 2024
  • Reducing wait times by 50% for versatile services such as cognitive behavioural therapy and improving resource allocation for mental health services by 2025
    • Increasing funding for versatile services such as cognitive behavioural therapy
    • Coordinating electronic medical records between patients and healthcare providers to reduce wait times
  • Expanding virtual mental health services by 40% by 2024 can improve access to care for vulnerable populations, enhance adherence to appointments and promote early interventions that may mitigate future adverse health outcomes.
    • Expanding virtual mental health services to improve access to care and provide crucial early interventions 
    • Promoting the use of existing virtual infrastructure for providing mental health services