Advocacy and Information: Youth Mental Health and Suicide

Rightbyyou.ca

It’s one of the most pressing issues facing our teens today – the lack of support for mental illness and its tragic consequences, such as suicide. 1.2 million Canadian children and youth are affected by mental illness – yet less than one-quarter of them are getting help. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among our youth.

Let’s open the door so that we can drive more conversations regarding youth mental health, and get our children the help they need.

Bust The Myths

Looking for more information on how to talk about suicide, mental health or mental illness with youth?

Visit the link to check out the videos as experts, parents and youth share their perspectives and bust the most common myths that exist today around this issue.

Web: http://www.rightbyyou.ca/en/bust-the-myths

Get the Guide

Information, resources and tips for parents and caregivers on how to support your teen’s mental health.

Web: http://www.rightbyyou.ca/en/get-the-guide

Facts

Suicide is the #1 or leading cause of non-accidental death among youth.

Navaneelan, T. Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 82-624-X. Suicide rates: An overview. July 2012

Every year we lose 762 young Canadians to suicide. Statistics Canada, 2009

We lose 2 young Canadians each day to suicide. Statistics Canada, 2009

As many as 173,000 young people (or up to 8%) will try to take their own lives.

TB Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, Shanklin S, Flint KH, Hawkins J, et al. Youth risk behaviour surveillance - United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report CDC Surveillance Summary 2012;61(4). / Population age group 15-19, Statistics Canada, 2012.

1 in 5 youth (aged 9 to 19) have a mental health problem or illness.

Risk Analytica/Mental Health Commission of Canada 2011 Impact Study

70% of mental health problems and illnesses have their onset during childhood and teen years.

Government of Canada. (2006). The human face of mental health and mental illness in Canada

3 out of 4 children and youth with a mental health problem or illness will not receive treatment.

Waddell C, Offord DR, Shepherd CA, Hua JM, McEwan K. (2002). Child Psychiatric Epidemiology and Canadian Public Policy-Making: The State of the Science and the Art of the Possible. Can J Psychiatry, 47(9), 825-832.

Over 20% of children with diagnosed mental health issues wait more than a year for treatment; the average delay is 12 months. Healthy Kids Inside and Out: The 2011 RBC Children’s Mental Health Survey

Almost 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental illness.

Arsenault-Lapierre G, Kim C, Turecki G. BMC Psychiatry 2004, 4:37 doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-4-37.

23% of all deaths for youth aged 15 to 19 can be accounted for by suicide.

Navaneelan, T. Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 82-624-X. Suicide rates: An overview. July 2012