Delays in access to anxiety, depression care for Canadian youth cost $4B annually: report

Right-sizing child and youth mental health systems could save the country $28 billion a year.

That’s according to Children’s Health Canada and the Conference Board of Canada which, in a new report, reveals the long delays in access to help for anxiety and depression cost the country at least $4 billion.

The figure reflects expenses to the health, education, and justice systems, as well as the foregone employment income of parents and caregivers.

Marjorlaine Provost with Children’s Health Canada says there’s another staggering calculation coming to light.

“If you take the cohort of 10-year-olds today in Canada that have a diagnoses of either depression or anxiety, the cost over their lifespan to address the mental health issues that they have could be up to one trillion dollars,” she told CityNews.

Timely investments are needed to not only nurture the well-being of young people across the country but also to save Canada a significant amount of money in the future.

The report confirms some 1.6 million children and youth are already diagnosed with anxiety or depression.

According to the report, children and youth that are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and those navigating their sexual and gender identities face disproportionately higher rates of anxiety and depression, which puts them at higher risk.

“This report serves as a clarion call for action on behalf of Canada’s children and youth,” Emily Gruenwoldt, president and CEO of Children’s Healthcare Canada said in a statement. “We have the opportunity to rewrite the future. If we act promptly to invest in and right-size health systems serving children, we not only improve their physical and mental health outcomes, we also save health systems and families, billions of dollars.”

Some recommendations outlined in the report include the development and funding of a pan-Canadian child health strategy, with mental health identified as a key pillar, the dedication of resources toward programs that are evidence-informed, outcome-based, and cater to the unique needs of vulnerable populations, and investments in the highly-specialized mental health workforce serving children and youth.

The report also calls for a national data strategy for child and youth mental health.

“Timely access to mental health services for children is crucial, and the current challenges are exacerbated by longstanding issues and the impact of the pandemic,” said Chad Leaver, director of health and human Capital at The Conference Board of Canada. “Addressing mental health needs requires not just catching up but surpassing pre-pandemic efforts to ensure swift and comprehensive support for children and youth.”