Better mental-health services needed for youth, group says
02.10.2008 20:01
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
The next federal government needs to do more to help young people with mental-health problems, the president of the Canadian Psychological Association says. An estimated 1.2 million Canadians under the age of 20 suffer from mental disorders, yet few receive the professional help they need, said Dr. Catherine Lee in a news release Wednesday. Bullying, violence and victimization at school are the organization's biggest concern, especially since Canada ranks below many other industrial countries in dealing with the issue, she said. Many young people will fail to meet their potential if mental-health problems are left untreated, she said. When childhood problems persist into adulthood, the human and financial costs are enormous, she said. According to the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, up to 10 per cent of the cost of crime can be attributed to inadequate mental-health care for children and youth, the release said. The direct and lost productivity costs of mental disorders and addiction to the Canadian economy are estimated at $33 billion, said Dr. Karen Cohen, the executive director of the Canadian Psychological Association. The organization has called on the next government to work with the provinces to improve mental-health services for children, including school-based programs and services. It also wants the government to address the current shortage of school psychologists. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKHealth HeadlinesHealth officials seek bus passengers exposed to TBOntario public health officials are looking for 27 people who could have contracted tuberculosis during a Greyhound bus trip to Windsor, Ont., on Aug. 31.Better mental-health services needed for youth, group saysThe next federal government needs to do more to help young people with mental-health problems, the president of the Canadian Psychological Association says.Kids to face, embrace elements all day long at outdoor preschoolChildren will play outside all day, rain or shine, in warm or wintry weather at Canada's first outdoor preschool.Effectiveness of colonoscopy for upper colon questioned by studyThe risk of getting cancer in the upper colon is higher than in the lower colon following a negative colonoscopy, a new Ontario study suggests. Taiwan removes Nestl products from shelvesNestl milk powder products have been removed from shelves in Taiwan after minor doses of melamine were found in the powders that were produced in northeastern China, says Taiwan's health minister. Health FeaturesHEALTHMultiple sclerosisHigh rates in Canada and around the worldIN DEPTHFood additivesPreservation with a risk?HEALTHPain pillsPros and cons of three popular pain relieversVIEWPOINTHeather MallickFat and food: what's the real crisis?MEDICAL RESEARCHBrain banksCrucial for research, clamouring for donorsCHILD PSYCHOLOGYPoliticians' behaviourHow do we explain it to our kids?People who read this also read …
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