Effect of pandemic on youth mental health 'cannot be overstated': advocate's report

Saskatchewan's advocate for children and youth released her 2021 annual report this week, highlighting the continued pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic on kids' mental health. 

"It has become very clear how badly Saskatchewan's young people need our help," Lisa Broda wrote in her advocate's message at the start of the document, which was published Wednesday — just weeks after her office released a special report outlining youth mental health issues.  

"It cannot be overstated that the aftermath of this pandemic has resulted in serious impacts on children and youth in their overall mental and emotional well-being."

Wednesday's report pointed to barriers some children in care faced over the last year with family visits or accessing support services. 

It noted as well that some students across the province showed signs of decreased overall wellness, due to interruptions in extracurricular activities and poor access to in-person learning. 

The document also said that four young people died by suicide last year, and there were 10 incidents reported involving youth trying to take their lives. The advocate's 2020 report recorded two youth suicide deaths and eight attempted suicides.

Meanwhile, overall deaths (24) and critical injuries or incidents (29) were down last year compared to 2020, which saw 38 child deaths and 35 critical injuries or incidents.

All of the suicide deaths and the majority of suicidal events last year involved Indigenous children or teens, which Broda says emphasizes the need for better access to culturally appropriate mental health services in the province. 

She's hoping a new advisory council of six First Nations elders, which will offer guidance on mental health and addictions, will help bridge that gap and further reconciliation.

"This is an important contribution to our report and certainly to advance better culturally informed, culturally sensitive, culturally infused health care," Broda said in an interview with CBC News Thursday.

"It's key to better outcomes for Indigenous children."

Of the dozens of kids and teens who died or were injured last year in Saskatchewan, the report shows most are in the care of or receiving help from a child and family services agency.

Tobie Eberhardt, assistant deputy minister of child and family programs with the provincial Ministry of Social Services, says she finds the data concerning, but says steps are being taken to address it.

For example, the government's child protection services manual has recently been updated to include policy requirements on suicide prevention and intervention, she said. Corresponding memos have also been sent out to foster families.