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Articles on Youth mental health

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A recent study found that 41 per cent of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes met the criteria for one or more mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety or eating disorders. (Shutterstock)

Big dreams and high demands: The mental health challenges of elite youth athletes

Given the unique demands and pressures of competing in elite sport environments, it is imperative that we pay attention to elite youth athletes’ mental health needs.
Researchers investigated how the availability of neighbourhood amenities may have contributed to changes in youth mental health and stress levels during the first six months of the pandemic. (Unsplash/Paul Hanaoka)

Neighbourhood amenities may have helped youth mental health and stress early in the pandemic

Neighbourhood features may have helped youth cope with the mental health impact of pandemic restrictions. Parks didn’t play much of a role but food amenities and the suburbs did.
Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks players and spectators stand for a moment of silence for Adam Johnson, before an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Oct. 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Hockey organizations need to address the psychological impacts of team trauma, not just the physical ones

Hockey culture’s tendency to prefer attributes like mental toughness over emotional vulnerability can damage athletes when they’re confronted with traumatic events. This needs to change.
Anxiety, depression and suicide among U.S. teens continue to increase. Paolo Cordoni/iStock via Getty Images Plus

As the mental health crisis in children and teens worsens, the dire shortage of mental health providers is preventing young people from getting the help they need

Millions of young people in the US are suffering, whether from abuse at home, pressure from social media or exposure to violence. But navigating the mental health care system can be disheartening.
Caregivers are encouraged to have conversations about mental health early and often, whether their child or teen is struggling or not. (Shutterstock)

What to do if your child is struggling: Steps caregivers can take to help kids and teens with their mental health

With child and adolescent mental health problems on the rise, here is a step-by-step guide for caregivers for recognizing signs of mental distress and responding with support and resources.
The hours spent – and the content viewed – by teens on social media can lead to depression, anxiety and body image issues. Mixmike/E+via Getty Images

Mounting research documents the harmful effects of social media use on mental health, including body image and development of eating disorders

Research shows that social media, with it endless promotion of unrealistic standards of beauty, has had a negative impact on millions of young people.
If we want to see improvements in the lives of girls in Canada and beyond, we need to first think critically about why we tend to dismiss and invalidate their concerns. (Shutterstock)

Girls are in crisis — and their mental health needs to be taken seriously

In Canada, over 50 per cent of female students in Ontario have reported moderate to severe psychological distress. One in four girls has been sexually abused by the time they turn 18.
If one friend is always the boss, the other friend may suffer. Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

A friend who’s more boss than BFF may be harmful for teens’ mental health

Friendships are important, but are they always healthy? New research finds that teens who feel dominated by their friends experience lower self-esteem and more symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The results of a new study highlight just how difficult, and potentially fatal, the pandemic has been for children and adolescents. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Suicide attempts rose among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for girls

The rate of suicide attempts in children and adolescents increased by 22 per cent during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic.
Social media can sometimes damage the self-esteem of teen girls. stock-eye/iStock via Getty Images Plus

How to help teen girls’ mental health struggles – 6 research-based strategies for parents, teachers and friends

The mental health of teenagers has grown far worse over the last decade. But a new report shows that, compared with boys, teen girls are disproportionately experiencing sadness and hopelessness.

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