This report was published by the Children and Youth In Challenging Contexts Network.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT:

Mental health is a primary concern among Canadian children and youth. 14 to 25 per cent of children and youth are estimated to experience mental health issues, and 70% of adults with mental health issues are believed to have developed symptoms during early childhood or adolescence. Many children and youth have ‘complex needs’ with multi-dimensional problems that require complex intervention strategies – there is no one-size-fits all solution.

CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research defines children with complex needs as ‘children with multiple health/developmental needs that require multiple services from multiple sectors, in multiple locations’. These children and youth lack sufficient mental health care and other social support services in Canada. This is a result of a number of factors including family dynamics, fragmentation of services, stigma, lack of adequate resources, and shortage of mental health professionals .

The problem is even worse among marginalized groups, including immigrant and Aboriginal youth, who have unique complexities associated with their mental well-being and social marginalization. Studies have connected the failure to adequately provide a caring environment for children and youth living with mental illness to other complex physical, mental, and social issues, including homelessness and suicide.