A recent survey has unveiled troubling statistics regarding the mental health of Ontario’s youth, revealing a significant rise in psychological distress among middle and high school students. The data, collected from over 10,000 students across grades 7 to 12, shows that more than half of these students report experiencing severe mental health issues—an alarming increase that has doubled over the past decade.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, the survey conducted between November 2022 and June 2023 across 235 schools highlights a “worrying” decline in youth mental well-being. The findings include that 19 percent of students admitted to engaging in self-harm, while 18 percent reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year.
“The data paints a stark picture of students grappling with mental health challenges,” stated Hayley Hamilton, the survey lead and co-director of CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research. “Many students rate their ability to cope with these challenges as only fair or poor.”
The survey, which has been carried out biennially since 1977 to assess student health and drug use, also reveals that a third of the respondents felt the need for professional mental health support but did not seek it. Reasons for not seeking help varied, including beliefs that they could handle the issues on their own, concerns about others’ perceptions, or simply being too busy.
Alexia Polillo, a CAMH scientist specializing in social media research, expressed her concern over the findings. “We are aware that mental health is deteriorating among young people, but seeing the actual numbers is still quite jarring.”
Despite the extensive use of social media among students—78 percent reported spending more than three hours a day online—there is insufficient evidence to directly link social media use to the increased levels of distress observed in the survey.
Seventeen-year-old Olivia Tocher, who sought help for anxiety and depression at CAMH, attributes her stress to factors such as climate change, job insecurity, and the high cost of living. “Our generation is constantly confronted with a frightening future,” Tocher, a CAMH youth adviser, explained. “We need a hopeful vision for our future, as we are capable but require support.”
The survey also identified that approximately 18 percent of students are extremely concerned about climate change, and 45 percent feel depressed about their future due to the issue.
On a more positive note, the survey indicates a “significant decline” in youth drug use over several decades and a steady reduction in alcohol consumption over the past 25 years. Cannabis use among students has decreased since 2019, and vaping rates have also fallen.
However, for the first time, female students have reported higher rates of cannabis use, vaping, and alcohol consumption compared to their male counterparts. Dr. Leslie Buckley, head of CAMH’s addictions division, noted that this trend might reflect increased pressures specifically affecting girls, warranting further research.