août 29, 2023
The number of children in Canada experiencing abuse, poverty, mental illness and other serious problems is on the rise and Indigenous youth face some of the highest risks, says a report on the top 10 threats facing young people across the country. Other findings include:
- About 60% of children experienced some form of abuse before the age of 15, including emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, witnessing violence and sexual abuse;
- About half of young people aged 12 to 18 experienced depression, while nearly 40% of them developed anxiety during the height of the pandemic; and
- Indigenous children make up about 3% of the pediatric population in Canada but account for more than 30% of deaths from unintentional injuries.