Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian youth have reported a troubling decline in mental health. According to the latest Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), 38 per cent of students now rate their mental health as fair or poor—matching the record high first reported in 2021, with both figures recorded in the post-pandemic period. The numbers point to a growing crisis, but they don’t tell us what recovery should look like from the perspective of youth themselves.
A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) aims to shift the narrative by asking youth directly: what do you need to recover? Led by Dr. Jo Henderson, Senior Scientist, at CAMH’s Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health and Dr. Meaghen Quinlan-Davidson, the study's first author and Staff Scientist at the McCain Centre, and supported by the McCain Youth Engagement Initiative, this research invited 40 youth, between 12 to 25, from across the country to co-create solutions grounded in lived experience.
We spoke with Dr. Meaghen Quinlan-Davidson to learn more about how youth shaped the study, what they identified as their top priorities, and the next steps for this research.
Q: Why is this research so important?
Meaghen: We were concerned about the pandemic's impact on youth mental health. COVID-19 disrupted education, social connection, and major milestones like starting a job or moving out. But it also accelerated a mental health crisis already in motion—driven by financial pressures and a digital-first world that exposes youth to global disasters, polarizing discourse, and unrealistic expectations.
Young people with existing mental health and substance use (MHSU) challenges were hit especially hard. At the same time, others showed remarkable resilience. We wanted to capture that full range of experiences and support youth in shaping recovery strategies that truly reflect their needs.
This national study is the first in Canada to develop youth-led recommendations for post-pandemic recovery. We've learned so much from the COVID-19 pandemic but missed a critical perspective. For Canada to move forward equitably and ethically, decisions must be guided by those directly impacted.
Q: How did youth participate in the process?
Meaghen: Youth were co-creators from the beginning. We used the Delphi method—a structured, consensus-building approach—to identify the top priorities. We began with a set of recommendations developed by youth in earlier research. Then, we invited a diverse national panel of youth to review, rank, and refine these recommendations through multiple rounds of feedback, while also contributing new ideas along the way.
We also formed a Youth Expert Advisory Committee in partnership with the McCain Youth Engagement Initiative. The committee included two youth engagement specialists (CAMH employees) and three youth advisors aged 12 to 25 with lived experience of mental health and substance use challenges. They helped shape the study design, review the recommendations, and interpret the findings. All members were compensated for their time and insights.
Q: What were the top recovery priorities youth identified? Meaghen: Four key priorities emerged from this research:
- Make MHSU services more affordable and accessible in schools, communities, and workplaces
- Integrate mental health education into school curricula
- Increase awareness of available MHSU supports
- Foster environments in schools and workplaces that promote well-being
The youth engaged deeply and thoughtfully. We received encouraging feedback throughout the process, and one youth shared, "I really enjoy the recommendations that have been created! It makes me feel optimistic for individuals who need these resources or need that individuality and control in their lives. Thank you for such an interesting and powerful study!"
Q: Were there any surprising insights?
Meaghen: Absolutely. One standout takeaway was how strongly youth emphasized the need for job opportunities that pay a living wage. Financial stress has worsened since the pandemic, especially for equity-deserving groups. For youth entering the workforce—often with student debt—making ends meet on an entry-level salary is increasingly difficult.
We also saw some differences in responses based on region, age, and experience. For example, nonbinary, gender-diverse, and 2SLGBTQ+ youth placed a strong emphasis on increasing school-based MHSU support and improving access to care.
Q: What is CAMH doing with these findings?
Meaghen: CAMH is very proud to host the Provincial Office of Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO)—YWHO brings together MHSU care, primary care, housing, education, and employment services in one youth-friendly space.
We're also very pleased to host the new pan-Canadian IYS Collaboration Centre and data platform to help build youth mental and substance use services across Canada.
Q: What's next?
Meaghen: Through our collective work, we have a real opportunity to integrate these recommendations into practice. We're also building and strengthening partnerships with schools to support mental health programming and working alongside local policymakers to advocate for meaningful, youth-informed change.
Right now, we are pleased that youth mental health is receiving growing attention—and this research gives youth a stronger voice and a platform to be heard by the people who can help drive the change that is needed.
