More young people diagnosed as suffering from anxiety in Quebec

The number of young people in Quebec suffering from anxiety has exploded in the years even before the pandemic, and they must be given the necessary resources, the head of a regional public health department warns.

Dr. Éric Goyer of the Laurentides public health authority says that in 2010, about 11 per cent of young people ages 11 to 25 had received a medical diagnosis of anxiety. Five years later, from 2016-17, that proportion was closer to 20 per cent.

“When we look at a study by the Université de Sherbrooke that our region participated in ... it's almost one out of two young people aged 16 and over that reported symptoms of anxiety or depression,” he said.

Goyer's comments came as an annual campaign addressing anxiety among young people enters its third year.

The Respire campaign — a collaboration between the Fondation André-boudreau and Goyer's department — aims to prevent anxiety among people between the ages of 6 and 17, and tries to ensure adults that accompany them are well equipped.

A survey by Maru Public Opinion for the foundation found twothirds of parents of children under 18 had concerns about the level of stress and anxiety their kids were experiencing.

As well, 29 per cent of those respondents felt they were poorly equipped to help their children, and 83 per cent said they would need more guidance to access tools and resources.

Goyer said the objective of the Respire campaign was to address those concerns.

Campaign organizers say they also want to tackle the issue of vaping, which appears to be increasing among young people as a means to deal with stress and can lead to the use of other substances.

More details on the campaign can be found at the Respire website.