Social assistance and trajectories of child mental health problems in Canada: evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth

Assessing the mental health problems encountered by school children and understanding the contributing factors are crucial to inform strategies aimed at improving mental health in low-resource contexts. However, few studies have investigated the mental health problems among disadvantaged children in poorer countries. This study examines the prevalence of mental health problems in rural China and their association with child and family characteristics. The study uses survey data from 9696 children in 120 rural primary schools and measures child mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Overall, 17.9% of the sample children were found to be in the abnormal range of the SDQ total difficulties scores. The mean score was 12.93 (SD = 4.94). Abnormal scores were associated with child and family characteristics, including older child age (Odds Ratio, OR = 0.704, 95% CI: 0.611, 0.810; p < 0.001), gender (OR = 1.235, 95% CI: 1.112, 1.371; p < 0.001), and academic performance (OR = 0.421, 95% CI: 0.369, 0.480; p < 0.001). Reading time was found to be protective for mental health. Risk factors include excessive screen time (OR = 1.685, 95% CI: 1.409, 2.016; p < 0.001) and being bullied (OR = 3.695, 95% CI: 3.301, 4.136; p < 0.001). Our study suggests that future mental health illness prevention programs in rural China should consider targeting different aspects of children’s social contexts.

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The joint association of family-level inadequate housing and neighbourhood-level antisocial behaviour with child mental health problems

Children and Youth Services Review ◽

10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105874 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 105874

Author(s):

Jinette Comeau ◽

Laura Duncan ◽

Carrie Smith ◽

Tracy Smith-Carrier ◽

Katholiki Georgiades ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Antisocial Behaviour ◽

Health Problems ◽

Inadequate Housing ◽

Family Level ◽

Neighbourhood Level

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Measuring child exposure to violence and mental health reactions in epidemiological studies: challenges and current issues

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva ◽

10.1590/s1413-81232009000200017 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 487-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cristiane Seixas Duarte ◽

Isabel Altenfelder Santos Bordin ◽

Genevieve Rachel Green ◽

Christina W. Hoven

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Exposure To Violence ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Health Problems ◽

Traumatic Grief ◽

Child Exposure ◽

Grief In Children

This paper examines challenges and current issues involved in measuring exposure to different types of violence which are associated mental health problems in children and adolescents. Standardized measures suitable for epidemiological studies, selected based on their relevance in the current literature, are briefly described and commented. The assessment of child's exposure to violence may focus on a specific event (e.g., kidnapping), a specific context (e.g., war) or even of a certain type of exposure (e.g., intrafamilial physical violence). The assessment of child mental health after exposure to violence has traditionally focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - most frequently measured through non-diagnostic scales. However, other mental health reactions may be present and screening as well as diagnostic instruments which may be used to assess these reactions are also described. Two issues of emerging importance - the assessment of impairment and of traumatic grief in children - are also presented. Availability of culturally appropriate instruments is a crucial step towards proper identification of child mental health problems after exposure to violence.

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The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of Canadian children and youth

FACETS ◽

10.1139/facets-2021-0078 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 1628-1648

Author(s):

Tracy Vaillancourt ◽

Peter Szatmari ◽

Katholiki Georgiades ◽

Amanda Krygsman

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Problems ◽

Stepped Care ◽

Children And Youth ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Coordinated Care ◽

Significant Impairment ◽

The Impact

Children and youth flourish in environments that are predictable, safe, and structured. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted these protective factors making it difficult for children and youth to adapt and thrive. Pandemic-related school closures, family stress, and trauma have led to increases in mental health problems in some children and youth, an area of health that was already in crisis well before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Because mental health problems early in life are associated with significant impairment across family, social, and academic domains, immediate measures are needed to mitigate the potential for long-term sequalae. Now more than ever, Canada needs a national mental health strategy that is delivered in the context in which children and youth are most easily accessible—schools. This strategy should provide coordinated care across sectors in a stepped care framework and across a full continuum of mental health supports spanning promotion, prevention, early intervention, and treatment. In parallel, we must invest in a comprehensive population-based follow-up of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth so that accurate information about how the pandemic is affecting all Canadian children and youth can be obtained. It is time the Canadian government prioritizes the mental health of children and youth in its management of the pandemic and beyond.

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