Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Wellbeing
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the physical, mental, and social well-being of children and youth in Canada, creating both immediate and long-term challenges. While much attention has been given to the economic and public health consequences of the pandemic, its impact on youth safety, mental health, substance use, and digital engagement is equally profound.
This Karto Signals Briefing (August 2023) highlights emerging post-pandemic risks affecting children and youth, focusing on vaping, substance use, cyberbullying, and eating disorders. These challenges demand data-driven policy responses, targeted interventions, and collaborative social infrastructure solutions.
Key Findings: The Pandemic’s Lasting Effects on Youth
1. Adolescent Vaping Rates in Canada Are Among the Highest in the World
- Canada has one of the highest youth vaping rates globally, with 29% of teens having tried vaping and 8% vaping daily.
- Nicotine addiction among youth is rising, leading to cognitive and emotional health impacts, as well as increased susceptibility to substance use later in life.
- Flavored vapes and social media promotion contribute to the growing trend, with many youth falsely believing vaping is less harmful than smoking.
- Policy gap: Unlike other countries with strict anti-vaping campaigns, Canada lacks comprehensive prevention initiatives targeting youth.
2. Substance Use Among Youth Declined During the Pandemic—but Became More Deadly
- While youth drug use declined during COVID-19 due to lockdowns and limited access, fatal overdoses increased, particularly from opioids like fentanyl.
- In British Columbia, fatal overdoses became the leading cause of death for youth aged 10-18 in 2022.
- Polydrug use (combining substances) is rising, increasing overdose risks.
- Social media is playing a role in youth substance use, with gangs using online platforms to recruit vulnerable teens into illicit drug markets.
3. Cyberbullying & Social Media-Related Mental Health Issues Are Rising
- 32% of youth report experiencing cyberbullying, with rates climbing to 50% among LGBTQ+ youth and 54% among youth with disabilities.
- Indigenous youth experience cyberbullying at rates 10% higher than non-Indigenous youth.
- The shift to digital communication (social media over in-person interactions) is contributing to increased isolation, mental health issues, and digital addiction.
- Technology companies are innovating faster than governments can regulate, leaving youth exposed to unfiltered content and online exploitation.
4. Eating Disorders Have Surged, Especially Among Adolescents
- Eating disorder diagnoses increased by 60% during the pandemic, with hospitalizations nearly tripling for youth aged 10-17.
- Social media-fueled body image issues and pandemic-related stress contributed to this surge.
- Youth from higher-income backgrounds were hospitalized at twice the rate of those from lower-income backgrounds, raising concerns about underdiagnosis among marginalized populations.
Strategic Solutions: Addressing the Post-Pandemic Youth Crisis
1. Strengthen Youth-Focused Public Health Policies
- Implement national anti-vaping campaigns similar to past smoking prevention initiatives.
- Expand harm reduction services for youth, including opioid prevention programs and supervised treatment options.
- Increase regulation of social media platforms to prevent online substance promotion and cyberbullying.
2. Invest in School-Based & Community Interventions
- Integrate mental health and substance use education into school curricula.
- Provide schools with trauma-informed training to identify and support at-risk students.
- Expand access to school-based mental health services, including peer support and digital therapy programs.
3. Improve Social Infrastructure to Support At-Risk Youth
- Create more accessible, youth-centered mental health services, including digital platforms for remote support.
- Enhance community programs that provide safe spaces for youth outside of school hours.
- Strengthen partnerships between schools, health providers, and social services to build coordinated intervention systems.
4. Address Digital Risks with AI-Driven Prevention Strategies
- Develop AI-based monitoring tools to detect cyberbullying and substance-related content targeting youth.
- Improve parental controls and education on online safety, equipping families with tools to manage youth digital engagement.
- Regulate online platforms to curb harmful content and promote positive youth engagement.
Conclusion: A Call for Action
The post-pandemic landscape has created new risks for youth well-being that require urgent attention. Without coordinated policy efforts, innovative intervention strategies, and enhanced community support, Canada risks a generation facing higher addiction rates, mental health challenges, and digital vulnerabilities.
To safeguard the future of Canada’s youth, policymakers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders must adopt a proactive, technology-driven, and youth-centered approach to public health and safety.
For a deeper analysis of youth well-being trends, policy implications, and actionable recommendations, read the full Karto Signals Briefing (August 2023).
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