Last month, CACAP President Dr. Claire De Souza released “A Call to Action in Support of Child and Youth Mental Health in Canada.” In this Call to Action, Dr. De Souza highlights the high need for effective mental health treatment for children and youth, noting that stigma around mental illness remains problematic and that the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the well-being of young people. Attention is also drawn to continued issues with under-funded and under-resourced mental health systems that limit the effectiveness of access to and availability of treatment. This Call to Action indicates that investments in specialized human resources are needed and that coordination among different sectors (including education, health, child welfare, and immigration) will be essential to improve outcomes for children and adolescents affected by mental illness.
To view the complete Call to Action, please click here, and visit the Advocacy page for more information on CACAP’s advocacy efforts.