OTTAWA --
Canada's top children's hospitals, including CHEO, are declaring a mental health emergency among children and youth as the COVID-19 pandemic wears on.
"School closures, the lack of access to sports and recreational programs, and social isolation have resulted in children being one of the hardest hit populations during the COVID-19 pandemic," a release said.
Advocates describe what they call "staggering" numbers of increases to suicide attempts and substance-use disorder admissions.
"Suicide attempt admissions have increased by 100 per cent on average during the pandemic," the release says. "Admissions for substance-use disorders have increased by 200 per cent."
It goes on to say that 70 per cent of children ages 6 to 18 have said the pandemic has harmed their mental health.