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canada is not taking care of its kids
report shows that the health of our children is not top priority.
sep 2 2020
2 minute read
children are facing enormous challenges. study outlines glaring need for help. stock/getty
one-third of children in canada do not enjoy a safe and healthy childhood, one in three canadians report experiencing abuse before the age of 15, one in five children live in poverty, and suicide is now the leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14. these are just some of the alarming statistics outlined in a new report, raising canada 2020 , which highlights the dangers facing children in canada. and covid-19 has made things worse.
fifty-seven per cent of 15 to 17 year-olds surveyed say their mental health is “somewhat worse” or “much worse” than before covid-19 hit and physical distancing measures were put in place, says the report, which is jointly published by children first canada, with the university of calgary’s o’brien institute for public health and the alberta children’s hospital research institute.
“we know that children’s health has been on the decline for the past decade,” says sara austin, founder and chief executive officer of children first canada. “and children’s health has to be made a priority.”
although “the federal government has children and their families on its radar,” she adds there has been a patchwork approach to dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. all too often, children’s physical and mental health is determined by their postal code, with black, indigenous and other racialized children left behind.
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children who live in poverty are also in danger, as many families face economic hardship brought on by loss of work during the pandemic. according to statistics canada, 29 per cent of canadians say covid-19 is having a “moderate” or “major” impact on their ability to meet financial obligations or essential needs.
their kids’ health is also at risk. as a result of lockdowns and limited access to outdoor activities, the study found that only 35 per cent of five- to 17-year-olds meet the guidelines of at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. they are also missing scheduled vaccinations — rates which have fallen by as much as 20 per cent in some parts of the country.
“some children and families will come out of the covid-19 pandemic seemingly unscathed, despite facing many stressors related to covid-19,” says heather prime, assistant professor of psychology at york university. others are likely to experience higher levels of family stress, especially among caregivers, burden, and negative effects on family relationships.
“identifying and supporting children and families who are potentially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of covid-19 is a critical need, so as to not further exasperate existing social inequities in child development and mental health,” she says.
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austin says several measures should be undertaken to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on children. these include the appointment of a commissioner for youth to oversee new supports for families and kids, and a federal strategy to address the top threats to children.
she adds that $250 million is needed to address the immediate concerns outlined in the report.
“every single day matters in the life of a child,” says austin. “we need to be putting them first.”
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