October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a day dedicated to the importance of mental health education and awareness. To mark the occasion, Bell held a roundtable discussion in Toronto, during which it released the national report A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada, published by Mental Health Research Canada. Based on scientific research and data, this new study takes an in-depth look at the worrying situation of young Canadians over the past five years. Indeed, the data gathered reveal a steady deterioration in the mental health of young people in recent years, both in Canada and around the world.  

 This day in Toronto is a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on the mental health of young people, which, despite some progress, continues to decline. The Youth in Mind Foundation is delighted to have taken part in this round table that brought together a number of Canadian leaders.   

The report launched today highlights the fact that, while young people are more inclined than ever to talk about mental health with their peers, they are less comfortable talking about their own problems.   

“Prevention has always been a key part of the solution in mental health. It significantly reduces the societal and human costs of unaddressed issues. Beyond that, we know that awareness and prevention have a direct, positive impact on young people. We meet 50,000 of them each year, and this direct and privileged connection confirms the need to keep reaching out—not just to them, but to their entire support system: school staff, extracurricular teams, family, friends, and any important adults in their lives. We must work together. It is our shared responsibility as a society to fill up the backpacks of our youth with the tools they need to face life’s challenges.”, said Mélanie Boucher, CEO of the Youth in Mind Foundation, as part of the report A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada.  

The event also served to announce a new focus for the next Bell Let’s Talk Day, which will take place on January 22nd. This year will mark the first ever text to donate campaign to be entirely dedicated to the mental health of young Canadians.   

Bell Let’s Talk Day 2025 will support six national youth mental health organizations. The Youth in Mind Foundation is very proud to announce that it is one of the partner organizations for this essential day.   

 Key facts and stats from the report  

• Approximately 1.25 million of Canada’s 4.6 million youth require mental health support each year.   
• Young people are more likely to self-report high anxiety (17%) and high depression (17%) levels compared to older Canadians.  
• 50% of young people aged 18-34 felt climate change negatively impacts their mental health. 
• Young people who spend more than 6 hours a day of their free time in front of a screen are 2.35 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts.   
• Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young people in Canada, accounting for 21% of deaths.   
• Improving mental health literacy can help reduce one of the major barriers: self-stigma.  
• When both youth and their support systems are well-informed, youth are more likely to manage their mental health effectively, and support systems are better equipped to identify concerns and direct individuals to appropriate help.  
• We understand the importance of treatment – but early intervention, prevention of relapses, and building resiliency against mental illness are cost effective means of preventing a lifetime of challenges.