{"id":2305,"date":"2025-09-25T17:10:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T17:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/?page_id=2305"},"modified":"2026-04-15T19:08:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T19:08:36","slug":"physical-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgccan.com\/en\/the-issues\/physical-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Physical & Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row el_class=”pbottom-5 ptop-4″][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8″]

THE ISSUE<\/p><\/div>

Children and youth nationwide are facing a mental health crisis<\/mark>.<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>

The well-being of kids and teens is declining, and those in marginalized communities are at higher risk. When young people understand their own mental health, they\u2019re better equipped to get the support they need.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_section css=”.vc_custom_1758819560562{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”pbottom-54 position-r”][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-10″][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes”][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-4″] \n

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<\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

70%<\/h3> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

of mental health challenges start in childhood or adolescence.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Mental Health Commission of Canada<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-4″] \n
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1.2 million<\/h3> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Children and youth in Canada are affected by mental illness.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Youth Mental Health Canada<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-4″] \n
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1 in 5<\/h3> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Canadian youth ages 12-17 describe their mental health as \u201cfair\u201d or \u201cpoor.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Statistics Canada<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”row-up-150″ css=”.vc_custom_1758819575906{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”5rem”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=”3552″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1767368843502{padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1758221797167{background-color: #003B4A00 !important;}”][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1775675998432{background-color: #003B4A !important;}” el_class=”wave-container navy ptop-7 pbottom-10 stretch-row max-width-1320″][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”custom-padding” offset=”vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8″]

HOW WE HELP<\/p><\/div>

Positive physical and mental health starts with safe, fun spaces and programs.<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner content_placement=”middle” el_class=”pbottom-10″][vc_column_inner el_class=”custom-padding” offset=”vc_col-md-6″]

90%<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

of our kids are more physically active.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

BGC Clubs create safe, positive spaces <\/mark>to learn about mental health and wellness.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

On their own, Clubs allow young people to engage with others without the pressures of school and the stress of family dynamics. Because of a Club, kids can find the resources they need by talking to an adult or participating in programs developed around healthy active living.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-6″][vc_single_image image=”2735″ img_size=”full” css=”” el_class=”custom-image-padding”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” el_class=”custom-column-padding”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\n\t\t\t

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Program Highlight<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Flex Your Head<\/strong>\u00a0is a program offered by BGC Clubs that helps teens think about, talk about, and understand mental health in a safe, welcoming environment. <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″]\n\t\t\t

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Program Highlight<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Cool Moves<\/strong> is a program offered at BGC Clubs that encourages kids to engage in physical activity, eat healthier, and develop a healthy, active lifestyle.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner el_class=”custom-block-white”][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8″ css=”.vc_custom_1760717652882{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”]

\u201cThe staff were so supportive, and they just wanted to make sure that I was okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Tessa, BGC Leduc, 2024 Youth of the Year<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[vc_btn title=”Tessa\u2019s story” style=”solid” color=”green_btn” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F1031942023%3Ffl%3Dpl%26fe%3Dsh|title:Tessa%E2%80%99s%20story|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_section el_class=”ptop-0″][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”wave-container white ptop-8 pbottom-4″ css=”.vc_custom_1758469066438{background-color: #FFFFFF !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1758468963206{margin-top: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-8″]

HELP US HELP KIDS<\/p><\/div>

BGC Canada\u2019s Mental Health Fund<\/strong> provides critical mental health support<\/mark> for BGC Clubs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

As the needs of children and youth grow, so do the needs of the staff who support them.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>[vc_btn title=”Donate” style=”solid” color=”donate_btn” align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fbgcdonors.donorsupport.co%2Fpage%2FFUNBFVAKRMA%3Fform%3Ddonatenow|title:Donate|target:_blank”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner]\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

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\"Three<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Make an impact that matters<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Help Clubs respond to the needs of their communities by providing mental health programs, mental health first-aid training, hiring outreach workers, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBECOME A PARTNER\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>[\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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