Report indicates Ont. economy loses $421M in productivity due to youth mental health issues

A report from Children's Mental Health Ontario (CMHO) estimates the cost in lost productivity from parents missing work to care for children and youth with mental health issues at $421 million in 2017. The CMHO finds that one-third of Ontario parents are seeking mental health services for their child and one out of four report missing work to care for a child with anxiety issues. The group also finds that:

• Eighty percent of parents/caregivers stated that their work life was impacted as a result of their child/youth’s mental health concern;
• Seventy-one percent of parents/caregivers stated that their finances were impacted as a result of their child/youth’s mental health concern; and
• Eighty-one percent of siblings had to take on additional responsibilities in their family as a result of their sibling’s mental health issues.

Related:
L'anxiété des jeunes coûte 421 millions par an à l'économie de l'Ontario - Radio-Canada