More than a third of teenagers in Quebec are in psychological distress, according to a study

The study released Thursday by the Youth in Mind Foundation said that more than one in two young people said they had felt sad or depressed in the past month and that girls are almost twice as likely to report experiencing psychological distress. than boys.

Catherine Burrows, Director of Youth Services at the Foundation, observed that for some indicators the study shows that teens are doing better than before, while for others the opposite is true. She states that the phenomenon of psychological distress is at the heart of the mission of the foundation.

The portrait of young people's well-being shows that concerted actions by the various actors in the lives of young people, whether schools, health professionals or the government, have promising and lasting effects on them.

The Portrait of the well-being of young people in Quebec was produced at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS) by the Observatoire Jeunes et société (OJS). He measured the well-being of young people in terms of their material conditions, education, physical and mental health, and their living environment, including data from Statistics Canada surveys. , the Institut de la Statistique du Québec and Quebec ministries.

Five months ago, Health and Social Services Minister Danielle McCann announced that her government would invest $ 40 million to improve youth mental health services and reduce waiting lists. A forum entitled Youth and Mental Health, bringing together some 200 experts, researchers, physicians, mentally ill youth and their families was held in Quebec City.