In 2016 in Quebec, before the pandemic, the realization of the problems young people were experiencing in connection with medicalization led to the creation of the Mouvement Jeunes et santé mentale. That movement focused particularly on marginalized youth and observed that in situations where young people who were in distress or were suffering had little access to support or help to improve their living conditions, what we had to offer them was medication. That movement held consultations and published data about these facts.
For example, a marginalized youth who has experienced disaffiliation, family breakdown or homelessness has a much higher chance of ending up with multiple medications than a youth who is living in more favourable circumstances. As well, we have observed that the pandemic led to accelerated prescribing of anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, and even medications for attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity.
The question we ask ourselves is to what extent that medication is being used to make up for a deficit in public services and support. Some people today explained how difficult support services were to access. Often, the public is not very familiar with the other services that are accessible, such as peer support groups. People automatically want to look for psychological support, but because that is not always accessible, the doctor will prescribe medications.