We must act now on the silent distress of young people in Quebec

The mental health of young people is at a critical point and it is time to act.

Recent statistics from the 7e edition of Léger’s study on millennials reveals a disturbing reality: almost half of members of generations Y and Z (48%) say they have already experienced a depressive episode, a worrying increase of 10 points compared to 2020. Behind these statistics hide human tragedies: failure in an exam, the abolition of a position, the death of a loved one.

The picture of anxiety is just as alarming, with almost three quarters of young people (75%) having experienced an anxious episode, compared to 45% just four years ago. Containment measures have had a major impact on their mental health at a crucial time of socialization, raising fears of a generation gap.

This rapid deterioration in the mental health of young people has profound consequences, not only on individual well-being, but also on Quebec society as a whole. The situation is particularly alarming within First Nations communities: young people are six times more likely to die by suicide. Health-related costs and the resulting distress represent not only an economic challenge, but above all a human issue.

The cost of inaction

In Quebec, inaction on mental health has an exorbitant cost estimated at $18 billion per year, according to actuarial research produced by Force Jeunesse. This sum considers not only direct medical care, but also productivity losses, absenteeism and support allowances. Behind these figures lie interrupted lives, abandoned projects and wasted human potential. Unfortunately, access to psychological care remains insufficient. Waiting times to see a professional are often too long, particularly in the regions, and costs remain prohibitive for a large part of the population.

However, we know that solutions exist. According to INESSS, every dollar invested in psychotherapy care saves two, not only by reducing health care costs, but also by preventing long-term complications.

A proactive approach for a healthy future

It is in this context that Force Jeunesse, in collaboration with other youth organizations, is launching a call to action on this World Mental Health Day. Quebec is proud of its universal health care system. However, an essential aspect of this social project is neglected: psychological health. It is time to complete this coverage by fully integrating mental health care into the public health insurance plan. This involves, in particular, universal and free access to psychotherapy consultations, a service that is often inaccessible to people with modest incomes.

As we often hear in the political world, the younger generations are the future of our society. It is time for the government to put words into action by providing them with the resources they need to overcome the challenges they face.

Investing in mental health today means investing in the resilience, creativity and future prosperity of Quebec. It is neither a luxury nor a superfluous expense: it is a social and economic priority. It is time for mental health to be treated with the same importance as physical health, because investing in mental health is investing in the future of Quebec.

* Co-signed this letter: Marie-Krystine Longpré, general director of the Young Chamber of Commerce of Montreal; Antoine Dervieux, president of the Quebec College Student Federation; Laurent Levesque, president and CEO of UTILE; Étienne Paré, president of the Quebec Student Union; Méganne Joyal, general secretary of the Federation of Student Associations on the University of Montreal campus; Mylène de Repentigny-Corbeil, general director of 3 sex; Geneviève Morand, interim general director of Citoyenneté Jeunesse; Alexandrine Beauvais-Lamoureux, president and co-founder of Scène & Sauve; Émile Simard, president of the National Youth Committee of the Parti Québécois; Daphnée Sauvageau, president of the Confederation of Student Associations of Laval University; Marie-Philippe Ménard, co-spokesperson for the Quebec-Labrador First Nations Youth Network; David Beauvais, president of the Federation of Young Agricultural Workers of Quebec; Nicolas Bourgois, director of the Autonomous Collective of CJEs of Quebec; Me Pier-Luc Laroche, president of the Young Bar of Quebec; Koralie Yergeau, spokesperson for the Quebec Nursing Student Association; Me Frédérique Earls-Bélanger, president of the Young Regional Bar Association; Lylou Sehil, president of the Youth Wing of the Social Economy Project; Xavier Lefebvre, president of the Confederation for student outreach in engineering in Quebec; Delphine Lalande-Levac, responsible for communications and mobilization of the Youth and Mental Health Movement; Vincent Leclair, secretary general and responsible for the youth file at the Regional Council of the Quebec Federation of Workers – Metropolitan Montreal; Christian-Alex Deschênes, president of the Youth Commission of the Liberal Party of Quebec; Me Marie Flambard, president of the Young Bar Association of Montreal.

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