On World Mental Health Day, we are reminded that Ontario’s mental health challenges reflect a global crisis.
The latest data from the World Health Organization shows that nearly one in seven people worldwide lives with a mental health disorder. Here in Ontario, 2024 data suggest more than one in ten report having mood and anxiety disorders, and more than one in four people report having poor to fair mental health.
As a social worker with a background in child wellness, today makes me consider the most vulnerable among us: our children.
Social workers are on the front lines, observing how global, widespread trends are impacting the health of our children and youth in unexpected and unforeseen ways. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic comes to mind: Statistics Canada reports that nationally, about one in five youth who felt their mental health was good in 2019 no longer felt that way in 2024. The youth of today are dealing with new challenges, prompted and accelerated by the prevalence of social media, precarious economic conditions, and now the rise of artificial intelligence.
And consider this: 70 per cent of people living with mental illness experience their first symptoms while they are still in school. For many, school may be the place where mental health issues are spotted and the site of key early mental health interventions.
Racialized youth are at increased risk. Through my own lived experience and my work developing an organization that focused on Afrocentric counselling, I witnessed firsthand the impact of the pandemic on Black children. I saw energetic young minds become more withdrawn, less vibrant, and deeply affected by the world around them and persistent racial inequalities.
In an increasingly online world, many racialized youth are regularly exposed to racist and hateful content online and report witnessing or experiencing racial bullying both online and in schools. This constant exposure can negatively impact their mental health and sense of safety, especially as they engage with these platforms from a young age. Approximately 80 percent of our referrals were for young people, many of whom struggled to make connections and navigate an increasingly uncertain world.
As we consider these challenges, I invite you to join me in a morning of critical reflection on October 23rd, at our 37th School Social Work Symposium. We will be digging into big questions about children and teen mental health and learning, and we will hear from researchers and social workers who will challenge, inform, and inspire us.
We are fortunate to welcome Renata Hall to deliver the symposium’s keynote, where she will examine the rise of misinformation, vicarious trauma, and emotional dysregulation triggered by digital exposure, particularly among students with developing digital literacy.
A session from Claire Hlavacek from Mental Health Research Canada will share key insights from MHRC’s newest polling, highlighting both the current realities impacting youth, such as trends in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, and the protective influences that make a difference, including peer support and personal resilience.
Lastly, Dr. Marina Badillo-Diaz will delve into one of the most pressing questions facing our youth: What does the ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence look like in school social work practice? Join us for a fantastic morning of learning: 2025 School Social Work Symposium
As we consider and reflect on World Mental Health Day, let us keep the younger generation in focus. The world is moving quickly, and new technology is changing how we interact, view ourselves and see the world around us.
Please join me on October 23rd to explore in detail how social workers, particularly those working in schools, can best prepare the youth and children in our communities to thrive in the digital age.
Ajirioghene Evi
CEO, Ontario Association of Social Workers