Major Mental Health issues Facing Canadian Youths

Major Mental Health issues Facing Canadian Youths

Introduction

Many Canadian youths continue to face mental health issues even after the formation of the Canada Health Act by the government whose main objective is to protect, promote and restore the physical and psychological well-being of all Canadians (Malla et al., 2018). An average of 15-25% of all Canadian youths aged 19 years and below go through at least one form of mental health illness. More alarming, the number of those who receive proper medical guidance is quite low. The status of one’s mental health plays a significant role in determining the overall well-being of an individual. A report done by Canada’s Chief Public Officer in 2011 revealed that high standards of mental health among the youths contributed heavily in their academic performance, commendable interpersonal relations and improved inner strength (Norris, 2018). Teenagers suffering from mental health issues are likely to face more health difficulties like ulcers as well as heart diseases.

Major Mental Health issues Facing Canadian Youths

There are several mental health disorders in the world today. One, Anxiety disorders. According to Norris, anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (2018). Most youths living under this condition often find themselves getting extremely afraid of regular occurrences in life. They often find themselves avoiding school and even disintegrating themselves from their colleagues. Two, Attention-deficit disorder. It is the most common disorder affecting youths today. It severely reduces individuals’ concentration-time span, thereby resulting in low academic grades in school. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, one out twenty Canadian youths is suffering from attention-deficit disorder (Norris, 2018). Three, Mood disorders. This disorder occurs typically in the form of depression or bipolar disorder. Youths living under these conditions undergo longer episodes of mood swings that are extremely low or extremely high at times than their usual age mates. In 2009, 6.3% of Canadian youth got diagnosed with a mood disorder (Norris, 2018). Four, Intentional self-harm. Many adolescents suffering from mental health disorders may self-injure themselves sometimes, while others may commit suicide. According to Statistics Canada, more than 3600 Canadians take away their own lives yearly. Suicide falls second among the causes of death among Canadian youths after the other natural causes (Norris, 2018)..

Provincial Government Roles in Fighting Mental Health Disorders

There exists no federal department whose primary role is to deal with health issues associated with the youths in Canada. However, through Health Canada, the government has initiated several federal programs tasked with improving the mental health of Canadian teenagers. For instance, through the Public Health Agency of Canada, the government has been boosting projects initiated at the grass-root level, whose central aim is to improve mental healthcare among all youths. Moreover, the Canadian government has been increasing its monetary funding through its health research investment agency to facilitate better researches on mental health. However, the need for the government to provide more funds is still alive since more and better studies are yet required.

Conclusion

Many youths and children in Canada frequently experience mental illness, yet they tend not to look for help. Those who have resulted in seeking help have faced a growing number of challenges (Malla et al., 2018 ). Some of the challenges include stigma and embarrassment from their age mates, low literacy levels in recognizing mental disorder symptoms as well as a preference for self-reliance on their road to recovery. As a result, prevention and subsequent healing of mental health illnesses could prove to be quite complicated. However, the mental health state of Canadian youths can be significantly improved if the following three strategies are strictly implemented. First, paying close attention to many youth’s desire for self-reliance. Second, educate kids on the different signs and symptoms of mental health disorder. Lastly, come up with programs meant to minimize stigma related to mental health help-seeking (Malla et al., 2018).