Abstract
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Background
Keywords
Findings
Author
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?
Background
The prevalence of mental health problems in Canada is highest among youth and young adults. Relatively little is known about where they seek support and the factors related to help-seeking.
Data and methods
Based on the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health, this study describes professional and informal mental health support reported by Canadians aged 15 to 24.
Results
In 2012, 12% of 15- to 24-year-olds reported that, in the previous 12 months, they had consulted health professionals about emotional, mental or substance use problems; 27% reported consulting informal sources such as family and friends. Young Canadians with mood, anxiety or substance disorders, one or more chronic physical conditions, higher levels of distress, or who had a traumatic childhood experience were more likely than their contemporaries who did not have these risk factors to report contact with professional and informal sources of support. Those with multiple needs-related factors had significantly higher odds of reporting contact with professional and informal sources.
Interpretation
More than one in ten young Canadians consulted professionals and about a quarter sought informal support for mental health problems in the past year. The percentages were higher among those with multiple risk factors.
Keywords
Childhood trauma, cumulative risk, distress, mental health conditions, service delivery
Findings
The mental health of youth and young adults, including the provision of services targeted to their needs, has been identified as a global public health challenge. In Canada, the prevalence of mood and substance disorders is higher among younger than older people. Mental health disorders often surface during youth and young adulthood, and can have negative lifelong consequences. However, youth/young adulthood is a transitional phase when opportunities for intervention exist. [Full Text]
Author
Leanne C. Findlay (leanne.findlay@statcan.gc.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division and Adam Sunderland was with the Health Statistics Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
What is already known on this subject?
- The prevalence of mood and substance disorders is highest among youth and young adults.
- Socio-demographic and needs-related factors are associated with the use of professional mental health care services, but relatively little is known about young Canadians specifically.
- Information about the correlates of seeking informal support for mental health issues is limited.
What does this study adds?
- In 2012, 12% of Canadians aged 15 to 24 reported that in the previous year they had talked to a health professional about problems with emotions, mental health or the use of alcohol or drugs; 27% reported consulting informal sources about these issues.
- The factors related to contacting professional and informal sources about mental health problems were similar.
- The presence of multiple risk factors was associated with a greater likelihood of consulting professional and informal sources about mental health.
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