BGC Canada’s National Youth Council (NYC) represents the concerns of thousands of youth across the country. The NYC aims to amplify youth voices and to ensure youth input is included in all national initiatives and activities. NYC members serve as ambassadors and role models for other children and youth throughout the organization. We aim to positively influence decision-making on issues related to young people to create a better and safer environment for all youth in Canada. Children and youth are the backbone of Canada’s future, yet our issues and concerns are often an afterthought.
The past few years have been tough on children. Statistics Canada data shows that youth have experienced the most significant mental health decline since the pandemic began. Only 42 per cent of youth now report their mental health as excellent or very good. Even though an estimated 1.2 million children and youth in Canada are affected by mental illness, less than 20 per cent receive appropriate treatment. Many short-term and long-term risks are associated with youth mental health challenges. A growing body of international evidence demonstrates that promotion, prevention, and early intervention initiatives show a positive impact.
As BGC Canada’s National Youth Council, we feel that mental health was an extensive issue youth faced during the pandemic. The ages of 15 – 21 are critical to a child’s life and can greatly influence their quality of life today and in the future. During the pandemic, youth were not out meeting new people and trying new things. While isolating at home, they didn’t have access to before and after school activities, recreation, or other opportunities to interact with their friends. Putting life on hold had and continues to impact youth mental health.
And given that mental health is so often overlooked, we need to advocate for mental health support, so youth are set up for success.
Additionally, as more children and youth struggle with their mental health, front-line staff are supporting children and youth in ways they weren’t before the pandemic. This adds stress and vicarious trauma to workers, often leading to burnout. Demand for Club services continues to grow without an increase in funding.
To address this issue, BGC Canada and the National Youth Council have:
- Developed a policy brief with other national charities on the mental health of front-line workers.
- Participated in House of Commons Committee studies on Children’s Health and the Mental Health of Young Women and Girls to put forward recommendations.
- Hosted a “Day on the Hill” for Club leaders and youth to speak directly to MPs.
- Had an NYC member speak on a panel hosted by NACY as well as their annual conference about the mental health of youth and front-line workers.
- Organized The National Youth Forum. Taking place this spring, the Forum will focus on youth empowerment and self-efficacy.
While we are working to support mental health reform more needs to be done for the children and the front-line workers that help them.
BGC Canada’s National Youth Council echoes recommendations from the child and youth sector that the federal government create a permanent Canada Mental Health and Substance Use Health Transfer that sets aside 50% of its funding for community services to ensure care is accessible to those who need it.
Within this transfer, we recommend:
- Further investment in culturally safe and responsive evidence-based community mental health programs for youth, including early intervention and prevention programs.
- Investment in evidence-based mental health support for front-line community service workers. Including:
- Expanding immediate access to mental health and substance use health support for staff who are currently struggling.
- Funding research on best practices relating to clinical supervision and incident debriefing.
- Enhancing organizational capacity building for Psychologically Healthy and Safe workplaces, including funding for front-line staff working with children and youth to access Mental Health First Aid Training.
Without the government’s support and attention to this mental health crisis, youth and front-line workers across the country will continue to struggle. By advocating for mental health reform, we can begin to create a brighter future for all Canadian youth that will set them up for success by improving education, employment, and overall well-being-being. Opportunity changes everything.