Supporting youth mental health
As a component of our policy paper Reaching Out: Supporting Youth Mental Health in British Columbia, Doctors of BC developed a youth mental health microsite at OpenMindBC.ca that provides coordinated and streamlined access to already existing mental health tools and resources for youth, young adults and their families, teachers, and health care providers.
Many youth transitioning from adolescence to adulthood experience challenges, but this path can be particularly difficult for the estimated 95,000 young British Columbians who suffer from mental illness.
It is during this time that 50-75% of mental health conditions first appear, but sadly, many of these youth do not seek help because of barriers such as not knowing where to find help, a lack of understanding of mental health and how to recognize mental illness, and the stigma that can be attached.
While many mental illnesses in younger people can be diagnosed and effectively treated by their family doctor, not all youth feel comfortable speaking to their doctor. Many are more at ease accessing information online.