Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you, colleagues, for the opportunity to speak with you today as part of your important study on the mental health of young women and girls.
I want to begin by acknowledging that I am speaking to you from the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.
I have the fortune of regularly meeting with extraordinary young people from right across the country who, I can tell you, are more diverse, more socially engaged, and much more educated than ever before.
These remarkable young people fill me with profound hope for bright and prosperous days ahead. They are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the leaders of today.
For young people, mental health is an everyday topic. It is not separate from work, community, school, or family; it is part of their daily lives. With their voices, we will create a healthier, more inclusive Canada.
As you know, the lead on mental health is my colleague, Minister Bennett, whom you'll be hearing from later today. I work with Minister Bennett and all of my cabinet colleagues to ensure that mental health support is accessible, and that our young people are protected. Looking toward the youth section of my portfolio, as well as on a very personal level, I have a keen interest in ensuring that we think about what we can do in a holistic way to improve the lives of young people in Canada.
The pandemic disrupted and impacted many aspects of our lives—school closures and disruptions, social isolation, more time spent online to stay connected, increased family stress, and fewer options for those experiencing gender-based violence. All of these factors have resulted in a greater number of young people struggling with their mental health.
Along with this, systemic inequality worsens mental health challenges and symptoms for young people with intersecting lived experiences. For their part, 2SLGBTQI+ youth report notably high rates of mental health struggles—60% reporting moderate to severe anxiety, 41% reporting symptoms of depression, and nearly 30% reporting suicidal thoughts.
It is essential that youth have access to the mental health services and support they need.
Young women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence have a high risk of distress and immediate or long-term mental health issues, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use issues or suicidal thoughts. To address this and to help create awareness on gender-based violence, my department recently developed a campaign designed for youth called “It's Not Just”. It will help empower young people to identify and challenge views and actions in their environment that contribute to GBV.
While it's clear that there are challenges, there are opportunities and successes as well that we must continue to bring forward. I cannot stress enough the significant role that community-based organizations play in the space of youth well-being and mental health. Such programs as the youth employment and skills strategy, Canada summer jobs and the Canada service corps have wraparound support services, such as mentorship and coaching, built in to help young people navigate not only job and volunteer opportunities but also a key period in their lives as they learn about the world of work and transition into adulthood.
During the early days of COVID-19, Prime Minister Trudeau took the time to talk about mental health and to talk about such resources as Kids Help Phone. Representatives from that organization tell us that on that day, Kids Help Phone had the highest level of engagement ever. The PM's youth council, of which I am vice-chair, is a diverse group of young Canadians who provide non-partisan advice to the PM and the Government of Canada on issues of importance to them and to all Canadians.
The world has changed so much, and the unique challenges and pressures young people face in their lives are significant. It's our job as a government to support them and reduce barriers wherever possible. That comes through concrete support, such as the $30-million investment to crisis hotlines across Canada, $14.8 million specifically for Kids Help Phone; fighting online harm; and taking measures to reduce financial pressure on students, such as permanently freezing interest on federal student loans.
The actions and investments I have described cannot on their own put an end to ongoing mental health impacts experienced by young women and girls. We know that.
The committee’s study promises to contribute another important piece to finding larger solutions that address the root causes and challenges affecting the mental health of young people.
Thank you, Madam Chair and committee members. I am very happy to take your questions.