This report was published by Statistics Canada.

HERE’S HOW THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THIS REPORT:

Among Canadians aged 15 to 24, the rate of depression is higher than at any other age, and suicide is the second leading cause of death. The current study provides detailed information about depression and suicidal ideation among young Canadians, including their use of mental health support.

Key findings from the study include:

• In 2012, 14% of Canadians aged 15 to 24 reported having had suicidal thoughts at some point in their life.
• In the previous 12 months, 42% of those with depression and 36% of those with suicidal thoughts consulted a professional source of mental health support; 61% and 58%, respectively, consulted an informal source.
• Associations between depression and suicidal thoughts and psychosocial factors such as negative social interactions and perceived ability to deal with stress differed for males and females.