Alberta’s young people have never been at greater risk than today. The difference between now and then is that today’s war can be fought and won right here, in our classrooms, and in our homes.
Alberta has experienced years of enormous change, setbacks, uncertainty, and worries in our communities, schools, and homes. Our youngest citizens have been at the center of compounding challenges and the consequences they have inflicted. Job losses in energy and across the economy, dramatic increases in the cost of housing, shortfalls in the accessibility of school and training programs, the shutdowns, cancellations, and isolation of COVID-19 to name only a few, have badly impacted the lives of young people and have bought a perfect storm to mental health in our province. Although gladly welcomed, recent economic improvement and the lifting of public health restrictions will not change the combined effects of the challenges that face Alberta’s young people today.
Experts have already documented increases in a wide range of mental health issues and self-harming behaviours across Alberta. They warn the trend will continue. To flatten the curve, we must get ahead of it.
Alberta has the 2nd highest suicide rate in Canada, and youth are among the hardest hit. In 2018 nearly 600 children under the age of 14 were admitted to the hospital after a suicide attempt. Tragic in every way, a suicidal death also has a financial cost estimated to range from $433,000 to $4,131,000 per individual. The estimated cost of attempted suicide ranges from $33,000 to $308,000 per individual. More than 90 percent of people who take their lives have a diagnosable mental disorder, commonly a depressive disorder or substance abuse disorder, which was not adequately addressed early enough to prevent the loss.
The budgetary costs of improving our mental health care system have been a focal point of some conversations, and justifiably so, as Alberta works to address many needs on many fronts. That being said, preventative mental health programming for all youth is not only less expensive than intervention and recovery but leads to additional savings, and greater tax income in the long run. By providing youth and families with adequate support early on, not only will the rate and severity of mental health issues decline, but less funding will be required as the need for crisis intervention declines.
Our team at the Impact Society is proud to operate the Heroes® program. Through the years, we’ve seen significant improvement in the mental health and resilience of youth who are empowered to live with confidence, character, integrity, and purpose. Our endeavours with the Viewpoint Foundation have created a revolutionized program for youth aged 12-16 that focuses on leadership and community service, creating a broader impact for each program participant. The new curriculum features an array of diverse, Canadian stories and includes trauma-informed chapters to ensure students can explore their social-emotional well-being in a psychologically safe environment. The Heroes 2 program guides youth to recognize themselves as individuals with tremendous confidence and ability, their support networks as resources that make their journey interesting and powerful, and themselves as people who continue their journey with purpose and success.
Together we can address this crisis and ensure the future of our province. Learn how you can be a part of the solution by visiting https://www.impactsociety.com/.