National Child Day is just around the corner. It’s a time to celebrate children as active participants in their own lives, and as citizens who can help shape decisions that affect them.
Children and youth should be able to meaningfully contribute to decisions about their health and well-being. Statistics Canada is currently conducting the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), which aims to provide important insights on their health needs and experiences.
The CHSCY covers mental health, access to a primary health care provider and care needs. It also collects information on long-term conditions and substance use. This information will help policymakers and researchers as they seek to improve services for children and youth.
Data collection for the CHSCY began in September and will continue through January 2026. If you are among the 63,000 invited to participate, we need to hear from you! There are two parts to the survey: one for parents or guardians of children and youth aged 1 to 17, and one for youth aged 12 to 17.
Your responses are confidential, and your privacy is our priority. For more information about how we collect personal information, visit the Information for survey participants and Trust Centre Web pages.
Statistics Canada recently released new results on the Government of Canada’s Shared Health Priorities indicators for children and youth aged 1 to 17 years. The findings focused on access to and experiences with primary health care as well as unmet mental health care needs, based on data collected during the 2024 cycle of the CHSCY.
Looking ahead
The CHSCY will release additional results from the 2024 cycle—including annual data tables on health indicators—on November 24, 2025.
Note to readers
The Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth is conducted in support of the Government of Canada’s shared health priorities with the provinces and territories, which include expanding access to family health services and modernizing the health care system with standardized health data and digital tools.
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).