Emma Bokner, 26, of Richmond Hill, Ont., was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age eight and began struggling with substance abuse as a teen. She experienced emotional and sexual abuse and struggled with eating disorders.
After high school, as her friends moved on, Emma found herself working part-time, often alone, and using drugs and alcohol. It took her six months to get treatment and another few months to enter a group home.
A new Statistics Canada report highlights that long waiting lists for mental health and substance abuse services prevent many girls and young women in Canada from seeking help. The report focuses on women aged 15 to 29 and uses data from 2022.
Nearly 40 per cent of girls and young women in this age group meet diagnostic criteria for at least one mental health or substance use disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, social phobia or substance dependence. This is much higher than the less than 20 per cent of the general Canadian population.
“There are definitely issues among young women and girls, especially since the pandemic began, with increased mental health and substance abuse issues,” said Kristyn Frank, a senior researcher at Statistics Canada.
The report also shows disparities in treatment satisfaction. Ethnic minority girls and young women are more likely to be dissatisfied with the treatment they receive than their non-ethnic peers.
Dr. Monica Williams, a clinical psychologist who specializes in mental health disparities, explained that many mental health professionals lack training for the unique challenges faced by ethnic minority groups. She stressed the need to increase the number of mental health workers from diverse backgrounds and speed up the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Statistics Canada also found that immigrant girls and young women were less likely to receive medication for mental health issues than those born in Canada. Meanwhile, lesbian and bisexual girls and young women said the support they received was more helpful than their heterosexual peers.
Many of those who were reluctant to seek help said they preferred to manage their symptoms on their own or were too busy. Other common barriers included the high cost of health services, not knowing where to get help, and a lack of trust in the health system.
In Quebec, a project called Aire ouverte is working to improve access by removing barriers such as waiting lists. The free and anonymous service does not require a health insurance card, making it easy for international students and new immigrants to use.
More than half of girls and young women with mental illness say they seek professional help, but Dr. Joe Henderson, executive director of the Ontario Centre for Youth Health, said the wide variety of services can make it difficult for young people to find the right support.
Henderson also noted that many young people are struggling before their condition is diagnosed, and current services may not meet their developmental needs.
The data was collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have exacerbated mental health challenges. Due to the small sample size, data on Aboriginal identity were not included.
Emma Boquena is now sharing her story publicly. She has been sober for nearly six years, is recovering from an eating disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, and is studying social work. “Life has its ups and downs,” she said. “Being able to lean on others helps me deal with life’s challenges.”
If you or someone you know is having a hard time, there’s help available:
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health offers a guide on how to talk to someone you’re worried about about suicide.
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